'Bebeng' now a typhoon as it enters RP territory

The tropical storm spotted east of the Visayas has intensified into a typhoon as it entered Philippine territory before dawn Wednesday. In its advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa) said the typhoon, code-named "Bebeng," was 1,070 kms east-northeast of Catanduanes as of 4 a.m. Pag-asa said "Bebeng" (international code name Man-Yi) packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kph and gustiness of 150 kph, and was moving northwest at 26 kph. "Bebeng" was forecast to be 830 kms east of Aparri, Cagayan Thursday morning; 700 kms northeast of Aparri, Cagayan Friday morning; and 1,050 kms north-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan Saturday morning. No public storm warning signals were raised, even as the disturbance is expected not to directly affect any part of the country. "However, it will induce the southwest monsoon that will bring rains particularly over the western section of the country and may trigger flashfloods and landslides," Pag-asa said. Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over the Bicol region, the eastern and western sections of Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southwest and south with slight to moderate seas. - GMAnews.TV