Typhoon hits northern Philippines, 100,000 flee

Life-threatening high wind and torrential rain will strike the northern Philippines as the center of Typhoon Nesat crosses northern Luzon Island.

Ahead of the storm, 100,000 people were being evacuated as of Monday, the Manila Times said. Schools were closed, flights were grounded and the military was put on standby.

Winds as high as 100 mph will lash northeastern Luzon upon landfall Tuesday morning, local time (late Monday, Eastern Time).

Winds will weaken markedly following landfall, as the storm tracks inland over the rugged landscape of northern Luzon and returns to sea on the west side by Tuesday night, local time.

Highest rainfall unleashed will reach 10 to 20 inches by Wednesday, making flooding likely and dangerous landslides a possibility.

Although the forecast path of Nesat would spare greater Manila the worst of the storm's destructive punch, the metropolitan area could nevertheless sustain some wind damage and rain-driven flooding.

Once over the open South China Sea, Nesat will strengthen anew, potentially becoming a typhoon before threatening south China, between Hong Kong and Hainan Island, as early as Thursday.

Forecasters in the Philippines have dubbed the storm Pedring.