( CNN ) A large storm system dubbed Typhoon Maysak is churning over the Pacific Ocean , days away from a possible direct hit on the Philippines . Maysak is moving west-northwest after skirting the Federated States of Micronesia , according to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center . Its eye is projected to make landfall in the central or northern part of the Philippine island of Luzon on Sunday , though the country 's residents could start feeling its effects days before . That could interrupt the Easter celebration for many in the predominantly Catholic nation , which may be socked by heavy rains and potent winds . The International Red Cross noted that `` many people are expected to throng coastal areas at this time . '' Images of the typhoon as seen from the International Space Station were posted to Twitter , including a Vine video showing the swirling eye of the storm . The storm has weakened and is expected to lose more strength before it reaches the Philippines . Its maximum sustained winds on Wednesday were 150 mph , making it a super typhoon in the Joint Typhoon Warning Center 's definition . But by Thursday , the winds ' strength had declined to around 132 mph -- no longer a super typhoon but still the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane . Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera told CNN that Maysak could weaken further to become a tropical storm by the time it reaches the Philippine coast . `` This will not be a catastrophic storm , '' Cabrera said . That said , it could still cause flooding and bring strong winds , he cautioned . The Philippines is frequently hit by typhoons . In December , for instance , Hagupit killed at least 18 people in the East Asian nation and injured hundreds more . But that devastation paled in comparison to the havoc wrought by Super Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013 , which killed more than 6,000 people and injured more than 27,000 others . That typhoon , considered to be among the strongest storms ever to make landfall , hit the eastern city of Tacloban especially hard . The irony of the upcoming storm is its timing : in April , just after the Philippines Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration officially declared the onset of the nation 's dry , or summer , season . PAGASA meteorologist Shelley Ignacio predicts Maysak -- which is called Chedeng in the Philippines -- will bring heavy rains to Luzon starting on Friday , according to the state-run Philippines News Agency . The country 's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council went on red alert on Wednesday because of the storm , the news agency reports . That alert means all relevant personnel are on standby and the public should be on guard for possible effects of the storm . CNN 's Jethro Mullen contributed to this report .
Maysak has sustained winds of more than 100 mph but is expected to weaken . It 's forecast to hit the Philippines during the monsoon season .