The state weather bureau said that typhoon “Butchoy’’ (international name: “Nepartak”) slightly weakened after it slammed into Taiwan yesterday but rains will continue to be felt in Luzon over the weekend.
Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 remains hoisted in Batanes. Tropical cyclone warning signals elsewhere have been lowered.
As of 11 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Butchoy was 260 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph, moving northwest at 13 kph.
Butchoy was expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility yesterday afternoon.
This morning, Butchoy will be 550 kilometers northwest of Itbayat or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and tomorrow morning, it will be 835 kilometers north-northwest of Itbayat outside the PAR.
Heavy rains are expected in Metro Manila and western and Southern Luzon due to the “hanging habagat” enhanced by Butchoy until tomorrow. Weather is expected to improve Monday.
Floods caused by rains from Butchoy and the southwest monsoon cancelled flights and classes in Metro Manila and various parts of Luzon yesterday.
Government suspended work due to the inclement weather. (Chito A. Chavez)