PAGASA: ‘Butchoy’ now a typhoon

MANILA, Philippines – Butchoy has now intensified into a typhoon but no storm signal is raised in any area, the state weather bureau said in its 11 am bulletin Saturday, June 16.

Typhoon Butchoy is nonetheless expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon and the Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA warned affected areas against possible flash floods and landslides.

Typhoon Butchoy is moving in a north northwestward direction at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), PAGASA added. It is packing maximum winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Based on PAGASA definitions, a typhoon is an intense tropical cyclone with a maximum wind speed exceeding 118 kph. A tropical storm, which Butchoy initially was, is a moderate tropical cyclone with a maximum wind speed of 64 to 118 kph (25 to 75 mph) and with closed isobars. 

PAGASA estimated the amount of rainfall from 15 to 25 mm per hour (heavy) within the typhoon’s 500 km diameter.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau advised fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into Luzon seaboards, the Visayas, and eastern Mindanao due to big waves generated by the combined effects of typhoon Butchoy and the southwest monsoon.

PAGASA will issue its next weather bulletin 11 p.m. — Rappler.com

Click on the links below for related stories: 

• [Updated] ‘Butchoy’: Signal #1 over E. Samar
• PAGASA lowers all storm warning signals
• ‘Butchoy’ stronger but moves away from PH