Tropical storm Karen intensifies as it blows away from Catanduanes

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical storm Karen has further intensified as it moved northwest Wednesday, the state weather bureau said.

Karen, which was spotted  640 kilometers east of Catanduanes, was packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kilometers per hour.

It was forecast to move northwest at 15 kph.

Occasional moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in Ilocos region, Mindoro and Western Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of Southern Luzon and of Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rains.

The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms in the evening.

In Metro Manila, it will be partly cloudy with possible occurrence of isolated rains or thunderstorms in the evening. Moderate winds blowing from the southwest and Manila Bay will be moderate, Pagasa said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to south with slight to moderate seas.