Storm signal Number 4 Yolanda that raised in Visayas is also expected to have a large diameter that could also affect Metro Manila.
Yolanda’s international name Haiyan will be the 24th cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year, with 2 to 3 more expected before the year ends.
The country only gets an average of 18 to 20 cyclones per year but had 32 in 1993. PAGASA forecaster Buddy Javier in an interview with DZMM, said Yolanda is still a tropical storm with 115 kph maximum sustained winds and 145 kph gusts.
PAGASA added that cyclone will arrive in the Philippines Thursday morning and will be felt by Thursday night.
Javier also said that compared to foreign weather agencies, PAGASA has no “super typhoon” category.
The United States Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said the weather disturbance would reach its maximum strength just before its projected landfall.
The JTWC said Haiyan could pack as much as 130 knots (240.76 kph) by 6 p.m. of November 7, Thursday.
It said Haiyan will then weaken to 115 knots (212.98 kph) by 6 p.m. of November 8, Friday, or after crossing the Philippines.
