Tropical Depression Kristine entered the Philippine area of responsibility and is expected to intensify into a typhoon and make landfall in Northern Luzon by Thursday evening or Friday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric,

The state weather bureau said that Tropical Depression Kristine had entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Monday morning. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has also forecast that Kristine would develop into a typhoon before landfall over Northern Luzon towards the weekend.

Tropical Depression Kristine has maintained its strength while continuing to move westward, the state weather bureau PAGASA said in its latest bulletin. As of 11 p.m., Kristine has kept a maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and a gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Tropical Depression Kristine is expected to intensify into a tropical storm in 12 hours although it slightly decelerated while moving westward over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Monday.

Tropical Depression Kristine maintained its strength Monday while moving west southwestward over the Philippine Sea.

Tropical Depression Kristine may become a typhoon before it makes landfall, state weather bureau PAGASA said Monday late afternoon. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Kristine may intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours.