The weather disturbance being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has intensified from a low-pressure area (LPA) and tropical depression into a tropical storm.
Internationally named “Bebinca,” PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina reported Wednesday mornign that it was last spotted 2,070 km east of Eastern Visayas.
“Itong bagyo na binabantayan natin sa labas ng PAR, mula sa pagiging tropical depression kahapon, ito ay tropical storm na. Ibig sabihin lumakas pa ito. Sa kategorya ng mga bagyo, after ng topical depression ay tropical storm, at kapag mas lumakas pa ay severe tropical storm,” Badrina said.
“Bebinca” currently carries maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and gusts reaching up to 90 km/h. It is moving north-northwest at a speed of 25 km/h.
The storm is expected to enter the PAR on Friday or Saturday and will be locally named “Ferdie.” However, the chances of it approaching land remain low.
Badrina said the southwest monsoon continues to affect the western part of the country, while the eastern part of the archipelago is now experiencing cloudiness brought by Bebinca.
He said that whether it enters or not, it will affect the southwest monsoon (Habagat) and may bring rain to the Visayas, including Palawan.
