(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines – With Super Typhoon "Bavi" (international name) set to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this Wednesday, storm signals will be raised over Northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday.
Nathaniel Servando, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) chief, said the tropical cyclone, which will be "Inday" once inside, was estimated to be 2, 010 kilometers east of Central Luzon.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240kph, Bavi is moving west-northwestward at 30kph, Servando said.
“This tropical cyclone is forecast to maintain its strength as super typhoon as it enters PAR. Gradual weakening is expected as it moves near extreme Northern Luzon while approaching the east of Taiwan,” according to the Pagasa chief.
Despite the low chance of landfall, the intensity and the extent of the strong winds from the center of the super typhoon has prompted the national weather agency to raise the wind signals over the northern and eastern portions of Luzon.
It said that the highest storm signal that may be hoisted during its passage would be Signal No. 2 or 3.
“Due to the uncertainty in terms of radius of strong winds, the possibility of raising wind signals over the eastern portions of Southern Luzon and Visayas is not ruled out,” Servando said.
He said the enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat" and the tropical cyclone would bring heavy rains to the northern and western portions of the country.
Meanwhile, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Lanao del Norte, and Sultan Kudarat will likely have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorm due to habagat in 24 hours.
The easterlies – winds that pass through the Pacific Ocean and carry warm and humid weather – have been affecting Cagayan Valley and Aurora, according to the state-run weather bureau.
Metro Manila and the rest of country will be experiencing partly cloudy to overcast skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms owing to the effect of the localized thunderstorms, it added.
