'Butchoy' weakens, 'Carina' may enter Wednesday

MANILA (3rd Update, 2:39 p.m.) – A new tropical storm is expected to enter the Philippine territory on Wednesday as Typhoon Butchoy (international name: Guchol) is set to move out of the country Monday evening or Tuesday morning, the weather bureau reported.

Weather forecaster Manny Mendoza said a third potential cyclone, internationally codenamed “Talim,” is expected by Wednesday afternoon.

“As of now, ‘Talim’ packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) ay nasa karagatan ng labas ng mga bansang (in seas outside) China, Laos, Cambodia at Vietnam o nasa layong 820 kilometers (km) west of extreme northern Luzon. Si ‘Talim’ ay tropical storm na and potential to become a typhoon,” Mendoza said.

He said that once “Talim” enters the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be locally codenamed “Carina.”

Meanwhile, Mendoza said “Butchoy” has slightly weakened as it moves in a north-northeast direction.

At 10 a.m. Monday, the eye of Typhoon Butchoy was located based on satellite and surface data at 580 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Butchoy” is moving north northeast at 24 kph and is expected to be 1,030 km northeast of Basco, Batanes by Monday evening or 290 km east northeast of Okinawa, Japan by Tuesday morning.

Pagasa said no storm signals are raised, but “Butchoy” is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon especially over the western section, and Western Visayas that may trigger flash floods and landslides.

It said “Butchoy” may bring rainfall of 15 to 25 millimeters per hour (heavy) within its 500-km diameter.

Several local government units and school administrators in Metro Manila and nearby Rizal and Bulacan provinces suspended classes on Monday due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Buchoy.

Heavy rains caused flooding in several low-lying areas of Metro Manila, including the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area.

Classes were suspended in public pre-schools and secondary schools in San Mateo, Rizal; Malabon City; Marikina City; Obando, Bulacan; University of the East Caloocan; Anima Christi Academy (Batasan Hills, QC); Upstreet Kids School House (Fairview, QC); Emerald Valley Christian Academy (Pasig City); Headway School for Giftedness QC; King Solomon Christian School International (Tatalon and Fairview branches); Our Lady of Angels Learning Center (Valenzuela); J-Priam School (QC); Colegio de Sta. Cecilia (Valenzuela); JC Wolim Christian School (Tandang Sora); Little Lazaret Christian Academy (Quezon City); Progeny Ardent School; Notre Dame of Metro Manila-Caloocan; Saint Mark International Academy; Faith Christian Academy; New Era University; Nuestra Señora De Guia Academy of Marikina; Marikina Christian Integrated School; St. Joseph Academy Valenzuela; Systems Plus Computer College Caloocan; St. Dominique Academy of QC; Pledge of Love School (Caloocan); Miraculous Lady of Peace Academy Novaliches; Notre Dame of Greater Manila; Saint Mark International Academy; Progeny Ardent School; Rosa Susano Elementary School Novaliches; Kings Montessori School Bagbag Novaliches; Miraculous Lady of Peace Academy Novaliches; Child Academy (QC); Castleville Academy; Eastern Star Academy; Little Lazaret Christian Academy; Commonwealth Academy; Salvador Araneta Memorial Institute (Malabon); East Baesa Academy of QC; Holy Trinity Multiple Intelligence Learning Center Caloocan; and Jerusalem Christian Academy of Novaliches.

Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III ordered Friday two government ships guarding a disputed South China Sea shoal back to port because of the bad weather, temporarily ending a two-month standoff with Chinese ships.

The government said it will have to “re-evaluate” whether to redeploy ships to the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal after the pullout Saturday due to the typhoon.

“As soon as the weather improves, there will be a re-evaluation of what the deployment will be,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Sunday.

She maintained, however, that the pullout was made not because of China’s request but to ensure the safety of Filipino personnel deployed in the disputed area, which was affected by thick monsoon rains caused by the typhoon. (AP/PNA/Sunnex)