(UPDATE) TROPICAL Storm Kong-Rey is expected to enter the Philippine area of ​​responsibility (PAR) on Saturday night or early Sunday morning, the state weather bureau said on Saturday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it will be called “Leon” when it enters PAR and could reach typhoon status by Monday.

“This tropical cyclone is expected to gradually intensify and may reach the severe tropical storm category on Sunday. It may also reach the typhoon category on Monday,” Pagasa said. he said.

“Depending on how close it will be during its rotation over the Philippine Sea, (Leon’s) outer rain bands may also affect Extreme Northern Luzon. It may also continue to impact the southwesterly wind flow initially triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, Southern Luzon in the coming days.” “It may affect the western part of Visayas and Mindanao,” he added.

By the time Leon reaches PAR, the weather bureau said the storm’s path will be away from the Philippine landmasses, but rain bands may affect Extreme Northern Luzon.

Although Severe Tropical Storm Kristine is outside the PAR, this storm is affecting the weather in the western part of Southern Luzon, especially Occidental Mindoro and Palawan, the state weather bureau said on Saturday.

As of the 3 p.m. hurricane watch in Pagasa’s 4 p.m. public weather bulletin Saturday, Kong-Rey, or Leon, was located 1,825 kilometers east of Central Luzon; The maximum sustained wind near the center was 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and there were gusts. Its speed is 80 km/h and its movement is 25 km/h towards the west-northwest.

Storm signals for Kristine were removed following her exit from PAR on Friday.

“Kristine will continue to move westward over the West Philippine Sea until (Saturday), turn counterclockwise on Sunday and Monday, then move eastward for the remainder of the forecast period. However, this scenario largely depends on the behavior of the tropical cyclone in the southeastern PAR region and behavior of other synoptic weather systems surrounding Kristine while over the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

“This tropical cyclone is expected to gradually intensify over the West Philippine Sea. Although the tropical cyclone is likely to remain in the severe tropical storm category in the next two days, the chance of turning into a typhoon has not been ruled out. However, due to the possible increase in the northeasterly wind flow over the West Philippine Sea, “A weakening trend is expected early in the week,” he added.