MANILA - Typhoon Yutu has maintained its strength as it moves nearer the Philippine area of responsibility, state weather bureau PAGASA said early Saturday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Lorie dela Cruz said the typhoon was last spotted 1,495 kilometers east of Northern Luzon as of 5 a.m.

It continues to pack maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) at the center, with gusts of up to 225 kph.

The 18th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year, the typhoon is forecast to enter PAR by Saturday morning and will be named Rosita.

"Sa ngayon, wala pa itong epekto o direktang epekto pa sa anumang bahagi ng ating kalupaan," Dela Cruz told radio DZMM.

The US Navy and Air Force's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) categorized Yutu as a super typhoon.

The Hawaii-based JTWC uses 1-minute average to record wind speed, while the state weather bureau uses 10-minute average.

PAGASA is expected to raise warning signals as early as Sunday night.