‘Butchoy’ to exit PAR Friday afternoon; monsoon rains to continue

SCREENGRAB FROM PAGASA.DOST.GOV.PH

Typhoon Butchoy (Nepartak) further weakened after slamming Taiwan, the state weather bureau said midday Friday.

The typhoon packed sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 200 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Butchoy was last tracked 260 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. It also slowed down at 13 kph northwest.

Signal No. 1 was placed over Batanes.

Butchoy’s winds and rains have battered Taiwan, but it will enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring moderate to heavy rains in Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite and Mindoro.

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In a televised briefing, weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the rains in the western section of Luzon will continue until Sunday or Monday.

The weather will improve in Metro Manila by Sunday night or Monday, while the whole country will have better weather by Monday or Tuesday.

He also said the typhoon will exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday afternoon, and will further weaken when it reaches mainland China at night.

Flashfloods and landslides are possible in Pangasinan, Bataan, Mindoro and Northern Palawan.

Sea travel along seaboards of Luzon is also risky, Aurelio said. CDG

READ: ‘Butchoy’ bears down on Taiwan