PAGASA: Typhoon Butchoy intensifies, to bring more rain before leaving PHL

Typhoon Butchoy (Guchol) intensified further and may bring more rain before it leaves Philippine territory and heads for Japan as early as Monday night, state weather forecasters said before noon Sunday. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Manny Mendoza said Butchoy will enhance the southwest monsoon. "Hindi ito maka-landfall, ang bilis ng pagkilos lalabas ito ng Philippine area of responsibility mga Lunes ng gabi," Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. But in Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that while Butchoy is no longer likely to make landfall, the threat of flash floods and landslides remains. She reiterated her appeal to fishermen not to venture out to sea, and to residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to heed calls to evacuate if the need arises. “Kahit sabi ng PAGASA na hinidi na talaga tatama sa kalupaan, na-e-enhance kasi nito ang southwest monsoon kaya naging maulan. Let’s take necessary precautions," she said on government-run dzRB radio. PAGASA's 11 a.m. advisory said that as of 10 a.m., Butchoy intensified further and accelerated north-northwest. It was estimated at 490 km east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of 10 a.m., with maximum winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph. Butchoy was moving north-northwest at 22 kph and is expected to be 500 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes Monday morning. On Tuesday morning it is expected to be 1,020 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or 280 km east-northeast of Okinawa, Japan. No storm warning signals were raised, but PAGASA said Butchoy may enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over Luzon and Visayas, especially over the western section, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. It said Butchoy may bring rainfall of 15 to 25 mm per hour (heavy) within its 500-km diameter./ "Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Eastern Mindanao due to the big waves generated by the combined effects of 'Butchoy' and the southwest monsoon," PAGASA said. — LBG, GMA News