Weather: 'Kabayan' intensifies into typhoon

Tropical cyclone “Kabayan" (international code name: Muifa) intensified into a typhoon Saturday afternoon, the state weather bureau said. “Kabayan" packed with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. “Kabayan," which is forecast to move north at 11 kph, was estimated at 1,030 kms east of Casiguran, Aurora, PAGASA also said. The western section of Luzon and Visayas will experience monsoon rains and the rest of the country will be “mostly" cloudy with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, according to PAGASA. Also, “moderate to strong" winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Visayas, and coming from the southwest to west over Mindanao, PAGASA added. It said the coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be “moderate to rough." “Strong to gale-force" winds are expected to affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon, the western seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of the country, it added. "Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," PAGASA said. — JE, GMA News