'Butchoy' slightly weakens, new cyclone may enter Wednesday afternoon

Typhoon "Butchoy" (Guchol) slightly weakened as it moved north-northeast toward Japan before noon Monday, state weather forecasters said.

 

But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned a tropical storm may enter Philippine territory Wednesday afternoon.

 

"Medyo humina nang kaunti si 'Butchoy' at habang kumikilos north-northeast. Maaari itong lumabas early evening sa Philippine area of responsibility," PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

Mendoza said the incoming storm—internationally codenamed "Talim"—will be locally codenamed "Carina" once inside the Philippine area of responsibility, he said.

 

An initial PAGASA list of names for cyclones had said the third cyclone this year will be named "Cosme," but the list has been revised as of Monday.

 

Mendoza said "Talim" packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and has the potential to intensify into a typhoon.

 

He said it is still 820 km west of extreme Northern Luzon as of 10 a.m.

 

"(Dadaan ito sa) western part ng Batanes at dadaan sa Taiwan," he said.

 

On the other hand, he said "Butchoy" and "Talim" are not likely to interact, saying their models show "Butchoy" is not likely to turn back toward the Philippines.

 

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA estimated "Butchoy" at 580 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

 

It said "Butchoy" was moving north-northeast at 24 kph and is expected to be 1,030 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or 290 km east-northeast of Okinawa, Japan Tuesday morning.

 

Enhancing monsoon

 

While PAGASA said no storm signals are raised, "Butchoy" is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over Luzon especially over the western section, and over Western Visayas which may trigger flash floods and landslides. 

 

It said "Butchoy" may bring rainfall of 15 to 25 mm per hour (heavy) within its 500-km diameter.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas due to the big waves generated by the combined effects of Typhoon 'Butchoy' and the southwest monsoon," PAGASA said. –KG, GMA News