Here's what we know so far about Typhoon Egay

When will it enter the Philippines?

According to PAGASA, Typhoon Egay is expected to make landfall between July 25 late evening and July 26 in the afternoon.

"This typhoon is forecast to cross the Luzon Strait and make landfall or pass very close to the Babuyan Islands-Batanes area between tomorrow late evening and Wednesday afternoon," PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said in a weather report.

The agency added, however, that further shift in the track forecast closer to Luzon is still a possibility with the ridge of high pressure north of the typhoon. Because of this, landfall over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan is not ruled out.

In its 12:00 pm update on July 24, PAGASA said that the typhoon's center is at a distance of 525 km east of Baler, Aurora with a maximum wind of 150 km/h and a gustiness of 185 km/h.

"May kabagalan ang pagkilos nito, kaya within the next 24 hours, inaasahan natin na posibleng mababad sa paulan itong mga lalawigan sa silangang bahagi ng Luzon at ng Visayas," Badrina said.

Potential to become a super typhoon

PAGASA has warned that Egay may develop into a super typhoon on Tuesday, July 25.

The weather bureau stated that when Egay is strengthened into a super typhoon, the storm could bring heavy rainfall to Batanes, Babuyan, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region.

But it can also "peak at an intensity just below super typhoon threshold," or just below 185 km/h, if its track shifts closer to Luzon landmass.

Preparations

Due to the dangers posed by Egay's strength, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged local government units to boost their efforts to prepare for its possible wrath.

In a July 23 statement, Secretary Benhur Abalos stressed that local chief executives (LCEs) must stay in their posts before, during, and after a typhoon hits to implement the protocols of "Operation L!STO," an advocacy program of the DILG which aims to strengthen disaster preparedness of LGUs using the "whole-of-government approach."

"It has been proven that the Operation L!STO Protocols save lives. We continue to remind our LCEs to stay in their posts in time of typhoons at pangunahan ang pagpapatupad nito sa kanilang mga nasasakupan. It needs LCEs to ensure that its guidelines will be implemented well lalo ngayon may parating na bagyo,” Abalos said.

Operation L!STO Protocols mandate LCEs to manage the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment, prepare appropriate response plans, organize parties for search, rescue, and retrieval of victims, as well as lead security and clearing operations teams, among others.

Now a super typhoon

PAGASA announced early Tuesday that Egay has intensified into a super typhoon, and four areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3.

"Egay is nearing its peak intensity. A short window of high favorable environment in the near term will allow it to either maintain its intensity in the next 12 hour or slightly intensify," it said. "Afterwards, a weakening trend may begin due to increasing interaction with the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon and Taiwan."

It warned that "flooding and rain-induced landslides" are "highly likely" as forecast rainfall is expected to be higher in elevated or mountainous areas.

"Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days," it said

However, it was noted that Egay will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the latest information that Typhoon Egay is now a super typhoon.