Typhoon Obet, the local name given to international typhoon Saudel, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday at 1:20 p.m., according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). The agency forecasted that the typhoon would exit the PAR within 12 hours, remaining far from the Philippine landmass.
Tracking the Typhoon
As of 4 p.m. on Monday, Pagasa's Tropical Cyclone Bulletin placed the center of the typhoon's eye about 1,430 kilometers east northeast of extreme northern Luzon. The storm was moving west northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h and gustiness up to 205 km/h. Pagasa said strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 540 km from the center.
Weather Specialist Grace Castañeda-Carpio, speaking in Filipino and English during Pagasa's 5 p.m. briefing, said that as the storm traverses north of the PAR's northern boundary, it will enhance the southwest monsoon. "So we see that likely, as it traverses north of our PAR's northern boundary, it will enhance the southwest monsoon," she said.
Forecast and Intensification
Pagasa reports that Obet will continue moving generally west northwestward for the next two days before turning more westward, and based on the forecast track, it will remain far from the Philippine landmass and exit PAR within 12 hours. Although it is expected to slightly intensify, it will remain a typhoon while inside the PAR, then weaken steadily as it moves over the southern islands of Japan and the sea north of Taiwan.
Philstar.com, citing Pagasa, earlier reported that the storm was expected to enter PAR and intensify into a super typhoon, though the Manila Times coverage has emphasized the storm's brief entry and exit, and its potential to enhance the monsoon. The Philippines Star added that if the storm entered PAR, it would be the 15th tropical cyclone this year and the fourth this month after Luis, Maymay, and Neneng.
Forecast Track and Landfall
According to Pagasa, after making landfall over the southeastern portion of mainland China, the typhoon is expected to weaken into a Severe Tropical Storm by Friday (August 28) and further weaken into a Tropical Storm by Sunday (August 29).
Safety Advisory
Pagasa advised those using small vessels to take precautionary measures, forecasting rough seas up to 3.5 meters off Batanes and northern Babuyan Islands, up to 3 meters off the western Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte's northern seaboard, and the western seaboard of Kalayaan Islands. Moderate seas up to 2.5 meters and 2 meters were forecast for various coastal waters.
Other Weather Systems
As of the latest weather bulletin, Typhoon Neneng is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, situated 520 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes, with winds of 55 km/h and gusting to 70 km/h, moving southwestward at 25 km/h, and is not expected to re-enter the PAR. Another tropical depression is located at 1,265 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon, with winds of 55 km/h and gusting to 70 km/h, moving east-northeastward at 25 km/h, and is not expected to enter the PAR either.