CURRENT NEWS IN PHILIPPINES

Tropical Storm Vinta (Tembin) intensified into a severe tropical storm late Thursday evening, December 21, shortly before its expected landfall in the province of Surigao del Sur.

In a bulletin issued 11 pm on Thursday, PAGASA said Vinta now has maximum winds of 90 kilometers per hour (km/h) from the previous 85 km/h and gustiness of up to 125 km/h from the previous 120 km/h.

The tropical storm is already 85 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, moving west at a slightly faster 20 km/h from the previous 19 km/h.

Signal number 2 is raised in:

Siquijor
southern Negros Oriental
Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island
Surigao del Sur
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
northern Davao Oriental
Compostela Valley
Davao del Norte
Camiguin
Bukidnon
Misamis Oriental
Misamis Occidental
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Sur
eastern Zamboanga del Norte
eastern Zamboanga del Sur
Signal number 1, meanwhile, is up over:

Southern Leyte
southern part of Leyte
southern part of Cebu
Bohol
northern Negros Oriental
southern Negros Occidental
Dinagat Islands
southern Davao Oriental
Davao del Sur
North Cotabato
Maguindanao
western Zamboanga del Norte
western Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay

PAGASA also warned that scattered to widespread rains are expected in the Visayas, Caraga, Davao, Northern Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and North Cotabato within the next 24 hours. Residents of these areas should be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides. (READ: What are the hazard-prone areas along Vinta's path?)

Sea travel is also risky in areas under signal numbers 1 and 2. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

PAGASA earlier warned the public to take Vinta seriously, saying they should prepare and closely monitor updates.

After landfall, Vinta is expected to cross Caraga, Northern Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and southern Palawan.

It will then leave PAR on Christmas Eve, December 24.

Eastern Visayas is still reeling from the damage wrought by Tropical Depression Urduja (Kai-tak), which battered the region as a tropical storm. National disaster management authorities said 45 people were killed and 46 others remain missing. Urduja left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last Tuesday, December 19.

Meanwhile, the tail-end of a cold front will bring more light to heavy rain to the regions of Bicol, Mimaropa, and Calabarzon, as well as the provinces of Aurora and Quezon. Flash floods and landslides are possible.

The northeast monsoon will also continue to affect Metro Manila, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and the rest of Central Luzon, but PAGASA said the scattered rainshowers will have "no significant impact.