Cloudy skies, rainshowers as storm nears PH–Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The tropical storm expected to enter the country Thursday afternoon inched closer to the Philippine area of responsibility early in the day, the state weather bureau said.

The tropical storm to be named Butchoy (International Name: Guchol) once it enters the country was estimated 1,110 kilometers east of northern Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is moving west-northwest at 20 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration.

Benjie De Paz of Pagasa said the storm could enter through Visayas and go up to Luzon.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Luzon, which is affected by a southwest monsoon, will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over the western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The western section of Visayas and of Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over the whole archipelago with moderate to rough seas, Pagasa said.

In its gale warning update, strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon and the western seaboard of Visayas.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves, Pagasa said.