'Labuyo' intensifies, threatens Luzon; 11 areas under Storm Signal 1

At least 11 areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 1 Saturday afternoon as Tropical Storm Labuyo (Utor) intensified further and threatened Northern and Central Luzon. In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Labuyo was estimated at 450 km east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4 p.m., with maximum winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of 135 kph. Labuyo was moving west-northwest at 19 kph and is expected to be 170 km north of Virac, Catanduanes, Sunday afternoon, and in the vicinity of Sabangan, Mountain Province by Monday afternoon. By Tuesday afternoon it is expected to be 390 km northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur or outside the Philippine area of responsibility. Under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

PAGASA said Labuyo may bring rainfall of 5 to 16 mm per hour (moderate to intense) within its 600-km diameter. It added Labuyo will enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring light to moderate rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Outlook PAGASA said Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quirino, Northern Quezon including Polilio Island, Camarines provinces, Albay, Sorsogon and Catanduanes will experience rain with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas. Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Masbate and rest of Quezon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. Moderate to strong winds from the southwest to southeast will prevail over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to northeast with slight to moderate seas. — LBG, GMA News