11.20.2007 4:14 PM

Cyclone Mitag Approaches The Philippines

A Category 1 Hurricane Nears Landfall

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Satellite image of Cyclone Mitag on Nov. 20, 2007.

Cyclone Mitag is forecast to hit the Philippines with the strength of a Category 1 hurricane.

Photo: U.S. Navy

By Dan Shapley

Barely a day after Tropical Storm Lando struck the Philippines, killing at least 11, Cyclone Mitag is set to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Now a tropical storm with 40 mph winds, the storm is forecast to double in strength before making landfall with Category 1 hurricane strength in about a day's time.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Hagibis is forecast to strike southern Vietnam with winds of about 60 mph, making it a strong tropical storm.

Scientists debate how and whether global warming has or will affect the intensity or frequency of tropical cyclones, which are variously called tropical storms, hurricanes and typhoons, depending on where in the world they occur.

While the Northern Hemisphere cyclone season is cooling down, the Southern Hemisphere season is just getting started.