Severe Tropical Storm Pepito intensifies, exits PAR

Severe Tropical Storm Pepito has intensified and crossed Northern Luzon, now moving west over the West Philippine Sea at 15 kph.

As of Wednesday afternoon, it had maximum sustained winds of 95 kph with gusts of up to 115 kph.

Pepito is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday morning or afternoon and may intensify further over the West Philippine Sea, heading towards Vietnam.

All tropical cyclone wind signals have been lifted, but high to gale-force winds due to the northeasterly surface windflow will still be experienced in Northern Luzon.

The trough of the storm is expected to bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Western Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to scattered light to moderate rains and thunderstorms, especially in susceptible areas.