The latest storm news at 5am on November 11 from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Typhoon Toraji had strengthened into a typhoon before dawn. The center of the storm was located at about 16.0 degrees north latitude, 123.0 degrees east longitude, 100 km east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora in the sea east of Luzon island.
The strongest wind near the storm's center was 120 km/h, up from 110 km/h previously, with gusts up to 150 km/h from 135 km/h previously.
The storm is moving west-northwest at 20 km/h, slightly slower than the previous speed of 25 km/h.
Typhoon Toraji is expected to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora on the morning of November 11, then cross mainland Luzon before emerging over the sea west of Ilocos Sur on the evening of November 11.
PAGASA said Typhoon Toraji "may intensify in the coming hours before making landfall," but it could weaken back into a severe tropical storm as it passes over mainland Luzon.
PAGASA's latest rain warning issued at 5 a.m. on November 11 showed that 20 provinces in Luzon are experiencing heavy rain from the storm, which could cause flooding and landslides.
Toraji (Nika) is the 14th tropical storm to hit the Philippines in 2024 and the second in November, coming just after Typhoon Marce (Storm No. 7 Yinxing), which hit Northern Luzon. Yinxing has since weakened to a severe tropical storm outside the Philippine Area of Prediction (PAR).
At 4:00 a.m. on November 11, the center of storm Yinxing was at approximately 17.5 degrees north latitude; 111.8 degrees east longitude, in the sea north of Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago. The strongest wind near the center of the storm was level 8 (62-74 km/h), gusting to level 10. The storm moved southwest at a speed of approximately 15 km/h.
It is forecasted that by 4:00 a.m. on November 12, storm No. 7 Yinxing will weaken into a tropical depression over the sea area of Quang Ngai - Binh Dinh.
Meanwhile, the low pressure area that formed outside PAR on November 8 developed into a tropical depression early this morning, November 11.
The tropical depression was located 1,685 km east of Eastern Visayas at 3:00 a.m. on November 11, moving west-northwest at a relatively fast speed of 35 km/h.
The strongest wind near the center of the tropical depression is 45 km/h and gusts up to 55 km/h.
PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the tropical depression could enter PAR this week, intensify into a typhoon and be locally named Ofel.
In addition to the tropical depression, another tropical cyclone outside the PAR is also being tracked - a tropical storm internationally named Man-yi.
Tropical Storm Man-yi was located 3,555 km east of Central Luzon at 3:00 a.m. on November 11, moving slowly eastward or away from PAR. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h, with gusts of up to 105 km/h.
Thus, there are currently 3 storms and 1 tropical depression active in the northwest Pacific region: Storm No. 7 Yinxing; Storm Toraji and Storm Man-yi, and the tropical depression between Storm Toraji and Storm Man-yi.
These three storms and one tropical depression are all located on the tropical convergence zone - the axis passing through the northern area of the East Sea. This is the reason why the East Sea continuously welcomes storms or tropical depressions.
