InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- The storm named “Karen” (international codename: Sanba) has grown into a super typhoon, the first to gain this status and potentially the strongest tropical cyclone this year, as it heads towards Japan and Korea, the US-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center said Friday.
The JTWC said Karen now packs maximum sustained winds of more than 277 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 333 kph.
However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has yet to upgrade Karen, which it last monitored 740 kilometers east of Tuguegarao, Cagayan as it moved north northwest in the direction of Okinawa at 15 kph.
Both PAGASA and the JTWC forecast the storm could make landfall in South Korea on Sunday, the same day it is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility.
Despite its strength, Karen has been barely felt in the country but will nevertheless bring rains as it pulls the southwest monsoon or “habagat” towards the western section of Luzon.
Meanwhile, News5's Metra Weather System also spotted a developing storm off Bataan, which may hit land by Saturday.
Most of Luzon, including Metro Manila, may experience cloudy to rainy weather this weekend.
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