PAGASA: 'Butchoy' winds now at 110 kph; floods, landslides threaten west Luzon

Tropical Storm Butchoy intensified to 110 kph before noon Friday, even as state weather forecasters warned of flash floods and landslides over Western Luzon due to the southwest monsoon. In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Butchoy was estimated at 510 km east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as of 10 a.m. PAGASA said Butchoy now packed maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph, and is moving west-northwest at 15 kph. Earlier in the day, Butchoy had maximum sustained winds of 100 kph. But  PAGASA has not upgraded it yet to a typhoon.  PAGASA defines a typhoon as an intense tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 118 kph. "Luzon will have occasional rain becoming frequent over the western section which may trigger flash floods and landslides. The rest of the country will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," it said in its 11 a.m. bulletin. PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said no storm signals have been raised yet due to "Butchoy," which he said has not directly affected any part of the country so far. Aurelio, in a media briefing partly aired on dzBB radio, also reiterated there is no chance of Butchoy making landfall, at least for now. The Japan Meteorological Agency's 8:45 a.m. update indicated Butchoy is likely to move north-northwest and not make landfall. A separate report by dzBB's Allan Gatus said Butchoy is expected to be 280 km east-northeast of Borongan Saturday morning; and 320 km east-southeast of Basco in Batanes by Monday morning. — LBG, GMA News