Update Typhoon Yolanda (International Name - Haiyan) - A strong tropical typhoon is projected to smack directly to the Philippines and perhaps wreck more havoc in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, multiple news publications reported on Tuesday.

Haiyan, which was formed near Guam, is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday, and it will be locally called Yolanda as the 25th typhoon to break into the territory of the archipelago this year.

According to AccuWeather.com, the typhoon is already the 13th typhoon formed in the Western Pacific season and is projected to strengthen as he moves towards the Philippines.

"Haiyan became the 13th typhoon of the western Pacific season Tuesday afternoon, local time. Conditions will be favorable for Haiyan to strengthen even more over the next few days," AccuWeather.com stated in their latest news update.

Bracing for the Big Storm

The Philippines is bracing for another potentially devastating natural calamity, just weeks after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake ravaged Central Philippines, particularly the islands of Bohol and Cebu.

According to the early tracking from AccuWeather.com, Haiyan will reach Central Philippines Friday afternoon. It will carry a wind gust over 125 mph and deteriorate as it goes through the island country.

"Haiyan will approach the Philippines on Friday. The most likely scenario is that Haiyan will be a very powerful typhoon with wind gusts over 125 mph as it approaches the central Philippines."

"Rain and increasing wind will reach the central Philippines Friday afternoon and conditions will deteriorate from east to west Friday night into early Saturday as the powerful typhoon crosses the islands," AccuWeather stated.

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Meanwhile, the JTWC, an agency of the US Department of Defense, already categorized Haiyan as a supertyphoon with wind speeds of 241 kph.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the Philippines weather bureau, indicated that the typhoon will affect several provinces located in Central Visayas, Samar, Leyter and Southern Luzon (Bicol Region).

"Mimaropa (Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Western Visayas and Bicol Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms," Pagasa reported via Philippine Inquirer.

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Approaching Danger in South East Asia

AccuWeather predicted Haiyan to weaken as it pushes through Central Philippines, but will remain a threat when it reaches the South China Sea by Saturday. Initial tracking of the tropical storm indicated that Haiyan will bring its powerful winds and rains toward Vietnam on Sunday to Monday.