Typhoon Mirinae is on target to make landfall in the northern Philippines lateFriday night or early Saturday, EDT. Mirinae has the potential to unleashdevastating winds in excess of 100 mph near the site of landfall. Flooding rainwith more than 20 inches will impact a wide area, triggering numerouslandslides. All this will occur as fears rise that one of Earth's most restlessvolcanos could soon erupt not far from the storm's forecast path.As of Thursday night, EDT, the eye of Mirinae was approximately 280 miles tothe east of Manila while tracking to the west at 20 mph over the openPhilippine Sea. Highest sustained winds are near 105 mph, or within thethreshold for Category 2 status.

The likely site of late-week typhoon landfall will be on the eastern shore ofnorthern Luzon Island. It is here that the most severe wind and storm tideimpact would take place. Flooding rain will be possible over a wider area rightacross northern Luzon spanning areas devastated by two earlier typhoons. At thecoast, a strong storm surge will send massive amounts of water rushing onshore.

Philippine authorities have advised residents to begin taking precautions inadvance of the approaching typhoon.

The northern Philippines has suffered devastation in the aftermath of two majortyphoons, Ketsana and Parma, during the last two months. Ketsana swampedgreater Manila with 10-20 inches of flooding rain during September. Then Parmatore through northern Luzon with destructive winds and extreme floodingrainfall that triggered landslides.

As if the threat of yet another typhoon were not enough for the island nation,a notoriously active volcano is now stirring, raising fears of an eruption byMount Mayon in southeastern Luzon. Up to 300,000 people could be evacuated inthe Philippines as a typhoon and possible volcanic activity threaten thearea.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that a lava domehas already formed in the crater of Mayon Volcano on the island of Luzon,according to RSOE. Unstable rock on the crater rim has also been cited as animminent hazard. An ash plume was reported during the day Wednesday after aminor explosion.

Officials fear that volcanic activity together with any heavy rain couldtrigger lahars, which are mudslides associated with volcanic mountains.

Distinguished from regular mudslides, lahars contain volcanic minerals and havethe consistency of wet concrete, according to the United States GeologicalSurvey.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller