Bagyong Butchoy June 17, 2012 Update

Bagyong Butchoy satellite image as of 6:32 a.m, June 17, 2012

Bagyong Butchoy, which intensified into a typhoon yesterday, has maintained its strength and is still moving North Northwestward, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Sunday, June 17.

The Philippine weather bureau said that Bagyong Butchoy was last spotted at 430 km East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes and is expected to be at 600 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes on Monday evening.

Typhoon Butchoy has a maximum winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kp, it added.

There were no public storm signals that were raised.

According to the PAGASA, Butchoy will enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon and Visayas especially over the western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. It thereby advices fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Eastern Mindanao due to the big waves.

The rainfall amount being yielded by Butchoy is estimated to be from 15 - 25 mm per hour, which is considered "heavy," within the 500 km diameter of the Typhoon.

Bagyong Butchoy Enters Philippine Area Of Responsibility

Bagyong Butchoy is officially the second cyclone to visit the Philippines this year.

Bagyong Butchoy's satellite image as of 2 p.m., June 14, 2012

Earlier today, the Philippine weather bureau said that Butchoy, a tropical storm with international codename Gutchol, has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

The storm, which was last spotted 880 km off East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, has maximum winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is moving West Northwest at the rate of 24 kph.

Bagyong Butchoy is expected to be at 560 km East of Virac, Catanduanes on Friday; 320 km Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes on Saturday; and 310 km Northeast of Aparri, Cagayan on Sunday.

The bureau said that the TS Butchoy's is yielding an estimated rainfall amount of 15 - 25 mm per hour (heavy) within its 300 km diameter. Fishing boats and other small seacrafts, are thereby,

It added that Tropical Storm Butchoy and the presence of the Southwest Monsoon could generate big waves and thus, it advises fishing boats and other small seacrafts not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao.