Rains will persist over the weekend due to the southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat” enhanced by typhoon “Butchoy” (international name “Nepartak”).
Butchoy moved closer to Taiwan yesterday, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration to raise tropical cyclone signal No. 2 over Batanes and signal No. 1 over the Calayan and Babuyan group of islands.
Before noon yesterday, Butchoy was estimated at 235 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 220 kph and gustiness of up to 255 kph.
PAGASA weather forecaster Meno Mendoza noted that Butchoy is expected to move outside the country’s area of responsibility today but will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon until the weekend.
This morning, Butchoy is expected to be 305 kms north-northwest of Itbayat and 640 kms northwest of Itbayat tomorrow morning.
Mendoza said Batanes, Calayan, and Babuyan group of islands may experience moderate to heavy rains and gusty winds due to the typhoon.
Meanwhile, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Visayas, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.
Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)
