‘Bebeng’ expected to intensify, bring more rain—Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical depression “Bebeng” is expected to intensify in the next 24 hours, threatening to dump rain in Metro Manila in the next few days, the weather bureau said Saturday.

As of 10 a.m. Saturday, Bebeng was moving northwest at 13 kilometers per hour with center winds of 55 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Bebeng, the second tropical cyclone of the year, was forecast to make landfall in Catanduanes on Sunday morning.

Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said Bebeng could intensify into a tropical storm as it was slow-moving and was expected to suck in monsoon rains from the South China Sea.

This could mean heavy rains on the western seaboard, including Metro Manila next week, Yumul said. At present, rains from Bebeng have inundated the Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions, where public storm signal No. 1 was hoisted on Friday night.