Manila, Philippines — Tropical Storm Queenie maintained its strength as it moved northwestward over the Philippine Sea Friday morning, with PAGASA reporting maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph. The state weather bureau said Queenie, internationally named Surigae, could intensify into a severe tropical storm within hours and reach typhoon category by Sunday as it approaches the boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Despite its proximity, PAGASA said the storm is not expected to make landfall or directly affect the country, though its trough could still trigger scattered rain and thunderstorms across Mindanao, the Negros Island Region, and parts of the Visayas and Bicol. No tropical cyclone wind signals have been raised so far. Queenie is forecast to exit the PAR sometime between Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning before curving toward the southern islands of Japan. Read More