Batanes under Signal No. 2 as ‘Butchoy’ slows

A Pagasa satellite photo taken at 11 a.m., July 7, 2016, shows the outer cloud band of Typhoon ‘Butchoy’ over the Batanes Islands. PAGASA PHOTO

Public Storm Signal No. 2 was raised over the Batanes late Thursday morning as Typhoon “Butchoy” (Nepartak) slowed down but kept its strength, the state weather bureau said.

The typhoon continued to move closer to Taiwan and was last tracked 235 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said at 11 a.m.

Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over the Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands.

Butchoy packed maximum sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour and sustained winds reaching 255 kph. It was moving at 20 kph in west northwest direction.

The typhoon will bring moderate to heavy rain within its 650 kilometer-diameter.

Pagasa repeated its warning for fishermen to avoid the northern and eastern sea boards of Luzon.

Butchoy will enhance the southwest monsoon, and rainy weather is expected in the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila, until Saturday.