MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Typhoon Pepito has rapidly intensified and is poised to reach the super typhoon category over the weekend, state meteorologists said on Friday.
As of 11:00 p.m., Pepito was located 305 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph.
鈥淧epito will continue to rapidly intensify today through tomorrow and may reach the super typhoon category before its landfall tomorrow evening or early Sunday morning,鈥� Pagasa said.
The typhoon is moving west-northwestward at 25 kph.
It is forecast to make landfall in Catanduanes on Saturday evening or early Sunday morning. However, Pagasa did not rule out the possibility of landfall in other areas.
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鈥淐onsidering the limits of the forecast confidence cone, a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon during the same time frame, over the eastern coast of Northern Samar tomorrow afternoon or evening, or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora on Sunday afternoon or evening remains not ruled out,鈥� Pagasa said.
Furthermore, Pagasa said a 鈥渟light weakening鈥� of Pepito may occur upon landfall, but 鈥渘evertheless, it will traverse the country as a typhoon.鈥�
It will likely be downgraded into a severe tropical storm once it is over the West Philippine Sea on Monday or by the time it exits the Philippine area of responsibility.