More rain in Bicol, Mimaropa, Visayas due to Typhoon Paolo

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MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Paolo (Lan) slightly changed its course late Friday morning, October 20, but continues to bring rain to parts of the country.

In a bulletin issued 11 am on Friday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Paolo is already 860 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, now moving north northeast at 16 kilometers per hour (km/h) from the previous direction of north northwest.

The typhoon maintained its strength, with maximum winds of 130 km/h and gustiness of up to 160 km/h.

There are no areas under tropical cyclone warning signals since Paolo is too far from land, and it is not expected to make landfall in the Philippines. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

Paolo, however, has a wide diameter of 1,350 kilometers, so its outer rainbands are still affecting parts of the Philippines.

PAGASA warned Bicol, Mimaropa, and the Visayas to stay on alert for moderate to heavy rain, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. (READ: Heavy rain triggers floods in Dumaguete)

Sea travel also remains risky in the seaboard of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon, the seaboard of Palawan, the western and eastern seaboards of the Visayas, and the western, northern, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

Paolo is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday morning, October 22.

PAGASA also continues to monitor a low pressure area (LPA), which has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone.

The LPA is already 105 kilometers south of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, bringing moderate to heavy rain.

In Coron, Palawan, the municipal government suspended afternoon classes in all levels on Friday due to the LPA.

“We’re just making sure that our students are secured, so we have declared class suspension effective this afternoon,” Mayor Ajerico Barracoso told Rappler by phone.

But Barracoso said government offices in Coron remain open for transactions. Island tours also continue within Coron Bay.

“Of course, island tours are affected, but boat operators are still allowed to sail only inside Coron Bay, where seas are relatively calm than outside the bay,” the mayor said.

The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will only have isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms on Friday. – with reports from Keith Anthony S. Fabro / Rappler.com