MANILA - The northeast monsoon or amihan, the cold wind usually associated with the Christmas season, may cause an approaching storm to make landfall on the country, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

Typhoon Yutu was spotted 2,535 kilometers east of Central Luzon at 3 a.m, packing maximum sustained winds 210 kilometers per hour and 260 kph gusts, said PAGASA meteorologist Chris Perez.

Yutu may enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday or Sunday. For now, it is unlikely to make landfall and only its outer rain bands may reach parts of Central Luzon, Perez told radio DZMM.

However, the amihan is expected to start prevailing in northern Luzon this weekend or early next week, he said.

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The cold wind from China could push Yutu southwards, allowing it to make a direct hit on northern Luzon, warned Perez.

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Another scenario, he said, could see the amihan weakening Yutu.

The typhoon is still gathering strength as it churned across the Pacific Ocean, Perez said. It will be named Rosita when it enters the country, PAGASA earlier said.

An intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) or band of clouds on Thursday may trigger thunderstorms in Davao and Soccskargen and Davao regions, PAGASA said in an advisory.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country may be dampened by localized thunderstorms, added the weather agency.

Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for the latest weather updates.

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