Bebinca enhancing Habagat —PAGASA

Severe Tropical Storm Bebinca is enhancing the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat as it maintained its strength approaching the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Bebinca was located 1,930 kilometers east of Northern Luzon packing maximum sustained winds of 95 km per hour, gustiness of up to 115 kph, and central pressure of 990 hPa.

The severe tropical storm was moving west northwestward at 25 kph with strong to storm-force winds extending outwards up to 580 km from the center.

Enhanced by Bebinca, Habagat in the next 24 hours will bring moderate to heavy rains in Masbate, Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Palawan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and South Cotabato.

Moderate to rough seas of up to 3.5 meters are expected over the eastern seaboard of Mindanao, the western seaboard of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands, the western seaboard of Visayas, the eastern seaboard of Palawan, the western seaboard of Mindanao, and the southern and eastern seaboards of Visayas.

PAGASA advised mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels.

Up to moderate seas of up to 2.0 meters may be experienced over the southern seaboard of Mindanao, PAGASA said.

PAGASA advised mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions.

Bebinca is expected to enter the PAR on Friday afternoon or evening and exit on late Friday evening or Saturday morning.

“Throughout the forecast period, BEBINCA will remain far from the Philippine landmass,” PAGASA said.

Bebinca is seen to intensify into a typhoon by Friday evening, according to PAGASA.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News