‘Leepi’ still outside PAR but boosts monsoon in PH

Severe Tropical Storm “Leepi” continues to move towards Kyushu, Japan, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tuesday.

According to Pagasa’s 11 a.m. weather bulletin, Leepi was last spotted at 1,740 kilometers (km) northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

It has a maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of 115 kph.

Although Leepi does not have a direct impact to the country, Pagasa said it nevertheless enhances the southwest monsoon, which brings rain in various parts of Luzon.

Aside from Leepi, the Pagasa also monitored a new low pressure area near Basco, Batanes; and Tropical Storm “Bebinca” near Laoag, Ilocos Norte but outside PAR.

READ: Pagasa sees bad weather on Tuesday /kga