PAGASA: Approaching storm strengthens, accelerates

The tropical storm approaching the Philippines strengthened further and remained on course, even as state forecasters said it might enter the country's territory Sunday night or early Monday. In its 10:30 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm was 1,070 km east of Northern Mindanao. It said the storm, internationally codenamed "Songda," had maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph and is forecast to move west-northwest at 11 kph. As of 6 a.m. Sunday, weather site Typhoon2000 had said Songda had maximum winds of 85 kph and was moving west-northwest at 9 kph. However, PAGASA said Songda is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is expected to enter "tonight or early tomorrow morning." It said it will issue the next weather advisory or alert at 11 a.m. Monday, or when the weather disturbance enters the PAR. — LBG, GMA News