Tropical cyclone Carina has intensified into a tropical storm, the state weather bureau PAGASA announced on Saturday afternoon.
As of 4 p.m., the center of Carina was located 630 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts reaching up to 80 kph.
Carina is moving west-northwestward at 15 kph, producing strong to gale-force winds extending up to 250 kilometers from the center.
PAGASA predicts that Carina will continue its northwestward trajectory until Monday while gradually slowing down.
It is anticipated to intensify into a severe tropical storm by Monday.
However, Carina is expected to maintain an offshore path over the next five days and stay far from the Philippine landmass.
While PAGASA does not expect heavy rainfall directly from Carina, the southwest monsoon, enhanced by Carina and a tropical depression (formerly Butchoy), will bring moderate to heavy rains over the western part of Luzon in the coming three days.