Weather: 'Kabayan' weakens, moves westward toward Taiwan

Typhoon Kabayan (Muifa) weakened slightly as it moved west before noon Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. But PAGASA said Kabayan may still bring flash floods and landslides to the western parts of southern Luzon and the Visayas. "('Kabayan' is) expected to enhance the southwest monsoon over the western section of Southern Luzon and of Visayas and will continue to bring rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said in its 11 a.m. advisory. As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said Kabayan was estimated 800 km northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph. Kabayan was moving west at 15 kph and is expected to be 550 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes Friday morning. By Saturday morning, it is expected to be 490 km north of Basco, Batanes or in the vicinity of Northern Taiwan. PAGASA maintained Kabayan remains too far to directly affect any part of the country. It also said an estimated rainfall amount of 15 to 25 mm per hour is expected from within the 700-km diameter of Kabayan. — RSJ, GMA News