‘Kabayan’ intensifies further; potential cyclone spotted off Ilocos

Typhoon “Kabayan" intensified further as it continued to move north toward southern Japan, even as state weather forecasters are tracking another potential cyclone off Ilocos Sur. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Manny Mendoza said there is a chance Kabayan can become a super-typhoon. “May posibilidad po itong lumakas pa. And then hahatak at hahatak ng hanging habagat," PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio Sunday, when asked about the possibility of Kabayan becoming a super-typhoon. A super-typhoon has winds exceeding 215 kph near the center. But Mendoza said Kabayan is continuing to move north and may head for Japan. He also said state weather forecasters now are tracking a potential cyclone, a low-pressure area (LPA) some 200 km west-northwest off Sinait town in Ilocos Sur. Mendoza said the LPA can become a cyclone while inside Philippine territory. Should this happen, the cyclone would be codenamed “Lando." More monsoon rains PAGASA said Kabayan was estimated at 970 km East of Casiguran, Aurora as of 4 a.m. Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It said Kabayan is forecast to move north at 7 kph. “The western section of Luzon will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides while Visayas and the rest of Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. PAGASA’s 11 p.m. Saturday advisory said Kabayan is expected to be 1,000 km east of Aparri, Cagayan Sunday evening and 930 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes Monday evening. By Tuesday evening it is expected to be 940 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 390 km east-southeast of Okinawa, Japan. — LBG, GMA News