Super-typhoon Parma heading for northern Philippines

Typhoon Parma has grown to a Category 4 super typhoon with sustained winds of 140 MPH and gusts as high as 155 MPH. Tracking forecasts are indicating that this storm will make landfall Saturday morning at full Cat 4 strength and will only weaken to a Cat 3 before entering into the South China Sea.

Storm-ravaged Philippines braced for 'super typhoon' Parma (CNN)

Days after one storm left hundreds dead and most of Manila under water, the Philippines was bracing itself Thursday for the impact of a super typhoon gathering pace in the western Pacific.

Typhoon Parma is expected to bring heavy rainfall and major property damage to the Philippines on Saturday, according to meteorologists.

The storm was upgraded to a super typhoon Thursday as it churned towards the island nation with winds of 240 kph (150 mph). The storm was about 600 miles (965 km) southeast of Manila, the Philippines' capital on Thursday afternoon.

The five-day tracking map shows the storm south of Taiwan on Monday.

Parma comes on the heels of Typhoon Ketsana, which left at least 246 people dead as it passed over the Philippines over the weekend. An additional 38 were still missing, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.

Philippines travel warnings continue as super typhoon Parma approaches (Examiner)

As rescue and clean-up operations continue throughout the affected areas, Parma is slowly advancing toward the Philippines at 19 miles per hour. Currently located approximately 600 miles southeast of Manila, the storm was upgraded on Thursday morning to the status of super typhoon, with sustained winds of 150 mph and gusts up to 183 mph. These wind speeds make Parma a borderline Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, capable of causing catastrophic damage.

Parma is expected to make landfall on northern Luzon Island on Saturday, October 3, inundating the area with devastating amounts of rainfall and flooding. While not in the storm’s direct path, Manila is likely to suffer some effects from this massive storm. Five-day forecasts indicate Parma will cross Luzon and head toward Taiwan, where it could make landfall next week as a Category 3 storm.