Bebinca enters PAR, now called Ferdie

Tropical Storm Bebinca has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was given the local name Ferdie, according to the state weather bureau PAGASA on Friday.

PAGASA said the tropical cyclone entered the PAR at 6 p.m.

Earlier, PAGASA weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda said Ferdie, which was carrying maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and gustiness of up to 105 km/h as of 3 p.m., was expected to exit the PAR early Saturday morning. 

Even though it's far from the Philippine landmass, Ferdie continues to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), bringing cloudy skies and rains throughout the country.

In the next 24 hours, the Southwest Monsoon will cause monsoon rains over MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Negros Occidental, and occassional rains over the rest of Negros Island Region and the rest of Bicol Region.

It will also bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Mindanao, CALABARZON, and the rest of Visayas.

The rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to Ferdie’s trough.

Flash floods and landslides may occur as a result of these weather conditions.

Moderate to strong winds with moderate to rough coastal waters will be observed in Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, while the rest of Luzon will experience light to moderate winds with slight to moderate coastal waters.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said there is a possibility of tropical cyclone formations in the next two weeks.

Between September 13 and 19, a weather disturbance with a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone is expected to enter the PAR before moving to Taiwan, the agency said.

There is a ''high probability'' that a tropical cyclone will form in the northeastern part of the PAR between September 20 and 26, it added. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News