Lingling's intensity briefly stagnated as it moved over Visayas before resuming intensification and intensifying into a severe tropical storm on November 8.

[2][3] The disturbance continued organizing, and on the same day at 20:30 UTC, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on the system.

[3][4][6] Lingling continued to the west-northwest, primarily steered by a mid-level high situated over northern Vietnam and southern China.

[7] Lingling's intensity briefly stagnated as its center moved over Negros Island and Panay before resuming intensification, with the JTWC estimating winds of 85 km/h (53 mph) on November 8 at 0:00 UTC.

[5][6] Later that day at 12:00 UTC, the JTWC unofficially estimated Lingling to have peaked, with 1-min sustained winds of 215 km/h (134 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 927 mbar (27.4 inHg).

[6] The JMA estimated Lingling to have peaked 12 hours later on November 11 at 0:00 UTC, with 10-min sustained winds of 155 km/h (96 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 940 mbar (28 inHg).

[5] A majority of the fatalities in the Philippines came from the municipality of Mahinog in Camiguin, where landslides, debris flows, and flash floods flattened hundreds of shanties.

[8][9] A state of calamity was declared in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, and Camiguin due to extensive damages to property and loss of life by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on November 26.

[18] There were fears of disease outbreaks due to lack of clean drinking water and cases of diarrhea in evacuation centers.