"LIWAYWAY" intensified into a tropical storm around 8 a.m. Monday, September 2, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The center of the tropical storm was estimated at 340 kilometers east of northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte. It has a maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts up to 80 km/h.

The trough of Liwayway may bring scattered light to moderate rains with at time heavy rainshowers over Bicol region, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Batanes between Monday and Tuesday, September 3, said Pagasa.

Southwest Monsoon will also bring scattered light to moderate rains over Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan and Western Visayas, it added.

The weather bureau said Liwayway remains less likely to make landfall in the country.

The tropical storm is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility Friday morning, September 6. (SunStar Philippines)