Melor, also known as Nona in the Philippines, continues to barrel toward the Philippines, where it will slam onshore with damaging winds and flooding rain early this week.
Residents should be rushing to complete the necessary precautions to protect lives and property.
Melor rapidly intensified into the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday evening, local time.
However, the typhoon began to weaken as it approached the Philippines and encountered drier air early Monday morning. While Melor will not slam onshore as a super typhoon as once feared, it still poses dangers to lives and property.
Melor will track over or dangerously close to the northern coast of Samar Island before barreling into southernmost Luzon Island on Monday.
Powerful winds in excess of 160 km/h (100 mph) threatens to cause widespread destruction in southernmost Luzon and along the northern coast of Samar. This includes Sorsogon City and Legazpi City.
Near and north of Melor's center, the eastern coast of southern Luzon will be subject to an inundating storm surge.
"Melor is a very compact typhoon, so that will prevent its most devastating impacts from extending too far from its center," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty. Winds in excess of 115 km/h (73 mph) extend only 55 km (35 miles) away from Melor's center.
Wind gusts higher than 130 km/h to target remainder of southern Luzon to Mindoro
Melor will continue to weaken as it crosses the central Philippines on Monday night into Tuesday. However, damaging wind gusts higher than 130 km/h (80 mph) will target the remainder of southern Luzon to Mindoro.
Rainfall amounts could top 300 mm (12 inches) in the central Philippines, especially across the higher terrain. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are a serious concern.
Also potentially in the crosshairs is Manila, the capital of the Philippines. While strong winds will bypass the city, heavy rainfall will be a possibility.
"There is the potential for 100-150 mm (4-6 inches) of rain to cause flooding in Manila Tuesday into Wednesday," stated Douty. "The city may even escape these totals if it passes far enough to the south."
