MANILA, Philippines – Bebinca strengthened from a tropical storm into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday evening, September 11, while still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
It now has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour from the previous 85 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 11 pm advisory on Wednesday.
The severe tropical storm’s gustiness is now up to 115 km/h from 105 km/h.
PAGASA said Bebinca could intensify further into a typhoon by Thursday evening, September 12.
As of 10 pm on Wednesday, the severe tropical storm was located 1,755 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon or 2,010 kilometers east of Central Luzon.
It is moving west northwest while maintaining a speed of 25 km/h.
According to the weather bureau, Bebinca is still likely to enter PAR as a typhoon on Friday afternoon or evening, September 13. When it enters, it will be given the local name Ferdie.
It will stay inside PAR for less than a day, as it is only projected to pass over waters near the PAR northeastern boundary before leaving on Saturday morning, September 14.
That means Bebinca will stay far from Philippine landmass.
PAGASA warned, however, that the trough or extension of the severe tropical storm and the southwest monsoon or habagat will trigger heavy rain starting Thursday.
The following areas may be affected:
Thursday, September 12
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Masbate, Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Palawan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, South Cotabato
Friday, September 13
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Negros Occidental
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur
Saturday, September 14
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batangas, rest of Mimaropa, rest of Western Visayas, Negros Island Region
“Note that the areas with monsoon-related heavy rainfall may change depending on possible changes in the track and intensity forecast of Bebinca,” added the weather bureau.
Floods and landslides are possible in areas to be affected by Bebinca’s trough and the southwest monsoon.
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Also due to the southwest monsoon, up to moderate seas are expected on Thursday in the western seaboard of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands (waves 1 to 2.5 meters high), as well as the eastern seaboard of southern Palawan and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao (waves 1 to 3 meters high).
PAGASA advised small vessels to take precautionary measures or avoid sailing in the affected seaboards, if possible. – Rappler.com