The storm system Conson ("Basyang") strengthened to tropical storm status on 12 July 2010

The storm system Conson ("Basyang") strengthened to tropical storm status on 12 July 2010 while on approach to the eastern coast of Luzon Island in the northern Philippines. According to meteorologists at Wilkens Weather Technologies, the storm is expected to strengthen to a hurricane prior to making landfall and moving across the island in the next 36 hours. Its movement over land is expected to weaken wind speeds and the storm will likely make a second landfall near Hong Kong in southern China as a tropical storm on 16-17 July. As of 0900 UTC, the storm was located approximately 550 mi/880 km east of Manila and was moving west at approximately 13 mph/11 kt. Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 70 mph/60 kt, with gusts of 86 kt/75 kt. In the Philippine provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, including Polilio Island, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes, officials have raised the public storm signal and warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas of the potential for floods and landslides.