Tropical Storm Melor continued to intensify on Saturday and it reached typhoon status.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Typhoon Melor was located at latitude 12.0°N and longitude 129.7°E which put it about 320 miles (520 km) east of Laoang, Philippines.  Melor was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.

The structure of Typhoon Melor is well organized and an eye has appeared intermittently on satellite imagery.  Melor has a small, well developed inner core surrounded by multiple spiral rainbands.  Thunderstorms near the core are generating upper level divergence, especially to the northeast of the center of circulation.  The upper level divergence is pumping out mass and causing the surface pressure to decrease.

Typhoon Melor is in an environment that is favorable for further intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is around 28°C.  An upper level ridge east of Melor is producing light southerly winds over the top of the typhoon, but the vertical wind shear is modest.  Melor is likely to continue to intensify on Sunday and it could become the equivalent of a major hurricane.

A subtropical ridge is steering Typhoon Melor toward the west-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue for another two or three days.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Melor could be near the northeast coast of Samar in about 24 hours.  The center of Melor could make landfall over southeast Luzon in about 36 hours.  Melor could bring strong winds and heavy rain.  The heavy rain could cause flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.