‘Karen’ intensifies as it moves towards PH Sea–Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical storm Karen strenghtened anew as it moved towards the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

Karen was spotted 540 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It was forecast to move northwest at 15 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Occasional light to moderate rains will be experienced over CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol region and Visayas while the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with brief rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to south and Manila Bay will be moderate to rough.

Small fishing boats and vessels were warned not to venture into the sea and large vessels were alerted against big waves as strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.