Gamiaw Weather Update: Signal No. 1 over Batanes, Babuyan as 'Butchoy' moves towards Taiwan

Photo courtesy of PAGASA DOST

MANILA, Philippines -- Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 is up over Batanes, Calayan and the Babuyan group of islands as Typhoon Butchoy maintained intensity while moving closer to Taiwan.

Pagasa said in a weather bulletin on Thursday morning that the typhoon was last located 330 km east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 220 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph.

The state weather bureau said moderate to heavy rain can be expected within the 600-km diameter of Butchoy and advised fisherfolk along the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon to stay ashore.

The typhoon is expected move northwest at 25 kph and will be 315 kn north northwesy of Itbayat, Batanes by Friday morning. Butchoy is forecast to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning.

At 4:00 am today, the eye of Typhoon "BUTCHOY" was located based on all available data at 330 km east of Basco, Batanes (20.9N, 125.1E) with maximum sustained winds of 220 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph. Iit is forecast to move northwest at 25 kph. Southwest monsoon affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Predicted Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis 8:00 AM today, 07 July 2016

Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis 8:00 AM today, 07 July 2016

Satellite Image

Surface Map Analysis

Forecast: Rains with gusty winds is expected over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Group Of Islands. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Visayas, Mindanao and the rest of Luzon. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough..