3rd storm to enter Philippines Wednesday

3rd storm to enter Philippines Wednesday The Philippine Star Updated June 18, 2012 11:47 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The third tropical storm may enter the Philippines by Wednesday afternoon, a government weather forecaster said Monday morning. Manny Mendoza, weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said that the incoming storm was spotted at 880 kilometers west of extreme Northern Luzon. Mendoza said that the storm, which is already packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour, may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday afternoon. The storm will be named "Carina" if it enters the PAR. Mendoza said that if the storm changes direction from west to east, it may directly affect parts of extreme Northern Luzon. He also said that the storm may intensify into a typhoon. Meanwhile, PAGASA said that typhoon "Butchoy" has slightly weakened as it continued to move away from the Philippines. It said that as of 10 a.m., the typhoon's center was estimated at 580 kilometers east northeast of Basco town in Batanes province. The typhoon slightly weakened with maximum winds of 160 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 195 kph. It was moving north northeast at 24 kph. PAGASA said that the storm will exit the Philippine area of responsibility and move towards Okinawa, Japan by Tuesday morning. The weather bureau said that Butchoy will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Luzon and Western Visayas, which may trigger landslides and flashfloods. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas due to the big waves generated by the combined effects of Typhoon "Butchoy" and the Southwest Monsoon.," PAGASA said. source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=63&articleid=818520 Date Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012