MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Tropical storm “Karen” has maintained its strength as it continues to move north over the East Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday.
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the storm has slightly accelerated while maintaining its strength, still packing winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour (kph) with gustiness of up to 80 kph.
It was moving at a speed of 15 kph and was located 740 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar at 10 p.m.
PAGASA said “Karen” is expected to be at 1,080 km east of Infanta, Quezon Wednesday night and at 910 km east of Aparri, Cagayan by Thursday night.
No storm signals have been raised in PAGASA’s latest bulletin.
Karen is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall within its 300 km diameter, but PAGASA said if the storm maintains its track, it will not make direct landfall.
PAGASA, however, warns fishing boats and other small seacrafts against venturing out into the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao due to rough seas caused by the storm.
The weather bureau is also monitoring a low pressure area (LPA) spotted 240 km west of Zambales.
