'Kabayan' intensifies; rain looms over parts of PHL

Tropical storm "Kabayan" (Muifa) intensified early Friday as it moved closer to Eastern Visayas, but state weather forecasters maintained it is not likely to make landfall over the Philippines. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Bernard Punzalan said Kabayan may enhance the southwest monsoon to bring rains over parts of the country. "Sa ngayon wala pa ring nakikitang posibilidad na ito ay magla-landfall bagama't maari itong magbigay ng pag-ulan dulot ng habagat," Punzalan said in an interview on dzBB radio. He added no storm warning signals have been raised in any part of the country as of Friday morning. On the other hand, he said Metro Manila can expect "improved" weather conditions compared to past days when it experienced heavy rain from storm "Juaning" (Nock-Ten). PAGASA said that as of 2 a.m. Friday, Kabayan was estimated at 840 km East of Catarman, Northern Samar. It packed maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph and is forecast to move west-northwest at 15 kph. "The western section of Luzon will experience monsoon rains while the rest of the country will be mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. PAGASA's 11 p.m. Thursday advisory forecast Kabayan to be 780 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes Friday evening; and 790 km east of Aparri, Cagayan Saturday evening. By Sunday evening, Kabayan is forecast to be 875 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes. Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds are expected to affect the western seaboard of Luzon. — LBG, GMA News