MANILA — State weather forecasters on Monday warned that Super Typhoon Bavi is likely to intensify the southwest monsoon in the coming days, bringing widespread rains to western Luzon and parts of the Visayas while threatening rough sea conditions in several coastal areas.
According to PAGASA, Bavi was last monitored about 2,120 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon at 3 p.m., moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour.
The cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by late Tuesday or early Wednesday and will be renamed Inday once inside the country’s monitoring area.
PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said forecast models continue to indicate that Bavi will track toward Northern Taiwan, making a significant change in direction unlikely.
Because of its projected path, the cyclone is expected to dump most of its rainfall over open waters. Nevertheless, its interaction with the southwest monsoon will likely bring periods of moderate to heavy rain across the western side of Luzon and portions of the Visayas beginning Friday.
Northern Luzon, particularly its extreme northern areas, could still experience the storm’s outer effects, while stronger monsoon winds may create hazardous marine conditions in many parts of Luzon.
PAGASA advised residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to prepare for possible weather-related hazards and urged fishermen and operators of small boats to monitor sea conditions before venturing offshore.
Servando said wind signals may be issued over parts of Northern Luzon as early as Tuesday if Bavi maintains its current course. The weather bureau is likewise assessing the need for warnings in portions of Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas.
Officials encouraged the public to stay updated through PAGASA’s official advisories and announcements from local disaster management authorities as the cyclone continues to move closer to the country’s northern vicinity.
elamigo/xf
