'Kabayan' heads for Japan, but still enhancing monsoon

Typhoon Kabayan (Muifa) maintained its strength as it continued heading for Southern Japan, even as it continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Monday. PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said Kabayan and Tropical Depression Lando continued to enhance the southwest monsoon that has brought rain to parts of Luzon and the Visayas. "Kabayan has maintained its strength and continues to move north-northwest, away from the Philippines and towards the southern islands of Japan," Enriquez said in Filipino in an interview on dzBB radio. She also maintained Kabayan is not likely to directly affect any part of the country, although it continues to enhance the southwest monsoon along with Lando. Enriquez said Kabayan and Lando are presently "interacting" although "Lando" is likely to dissipate as it is the smaller weather system. The result of the interaction is the enhanced southwest monsoon that will bring rain especially over the western parts of Luzon and the Visayas, she added. Meanwhile, Enriquez said a potential cyclone, to be codenamed "Mina" once it enters Philippine territory, continues to form outside the Philippines. "LPA pa lang, binabantayan natin, nagpapakita ng posibilidad maging bagyo (It is still a low-pressure area for now. We are monitoring it)," she said as she hinted the LPA may enter Philippine territory this weekend. Kabayan, Lando As of 10 a.m., PAGASA estimated Kabayan was 1,160 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It was moving north northwest at 9 kph and is expected to be 1,020 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes Tuesday morning, and 940 km northeast of Basco, Batanes Wednesday morning. By Thursday morning, it is expected to be 980 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes or 280 km southeast of Okinawa, Japan. Meanwhile, Lando was estimated at 280 km west southwest of Laoag City as of 10 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and was moving north-northeast slowly. PAGASA said Lando is expected to be 190 km west northwest of Laoag City Tuesday morning, and 160 km north of Laoag City Wednesday morning. By Thursday morning, it is expected to be 240 km north northeast of Laoag City or at 110 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes. "The country is not directly affected by 'Lando' but the enhancement of southwest monsoon that bring scattered to widespread rains over Luzon and Visayas particularly the western section," PAGASA said. It added the estimated rainfall amount is from 5-10 mm per hour within the 300-km diameter of Lando. — RSJ, GMA News