MANILA — Severe Tropical Storm TINO (Kalmaegi) has intensified while moving west-southwest over the Philippine Sea and is forecast to make initial landfall over Eastern Samar, Leyte, or Dinagat Islands by late Tuesday or early Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)reported Monday.

As of 4 a.m. on November 3, the center of TINO was located 430 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (10.8°N, 129.7°E), packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gusts up to 135 km/h, with a central pressure of 980 hPa. The storm is moving west-southwest at 30 km/h, with strong to storm-force winds extending up to 300 km from its center.

PAGASA has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over parts of Eastern and Southern Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Camotes Islands, Bohol, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and northeastern Agusan del Norte, warning of minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds. TCWS No. 1 is in effect over other parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, signaling minimal to minor threats from strong winds.

Authorities also warned of life-threatening storm surges in low-lying coastal areas of Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin within the next 48 hours.

Sea travel is risky, with very rough to high seas reaching up to 9 meters in some eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. Mariners of all types of vessels are advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor until conditions improve.

TINO is expected to intensify into a typhoon within 12 hours, potentially reaching super typhoon strength before landfall. Interaction with the terrain may slightly weaken it, but it is forecast to remain at typhoon intensity throughout its passage across the country.

The public and disaster management offices are urged to take all necessary precautions and follow evacuation and safety instructions from local authorities.