'Labuyo' weakens; to exit PAR on Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Labuyo" has weakened while crossing northern Luzon and will exit Philippine landmass early this afternoon, the state weather bureau said Monday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its latest weather bulletin that the eye of Typhoon Labuyo was located in the vicinity of Baguio City at 10 a.m. today.

Labuyo was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. It is projected to move west northwest at 19 kph.

PAGASA said Labuyo is expected to be at 360 km West of Sinait, Ilocos Sur by tomorrow morning or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 is still hoisted over Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, La Union and Pangasinan.

The provinces of Isabela, Aurora, Southern Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra, Southern Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija are also under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2.

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 is hoisted in the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, Rest of Ilocos Norte, Babuyan and Calayan Group, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Northern Quezon including Polillo Island, and Metro Manila.

The agency said public storm warning signals elsewhere are now lifted.

Moderate to heavy rainfall (seven to 15 millimeters per hour) is expected within the 500-km diameter of the typhoon.

PAGASA warned residents in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals against possible flashfloods, landslide and storm surges.

Labuyo will enhance the Southwest Monsoon which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Southern Luzon and Western Visayas.

Fishermen especially those using small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Southern Luzon and western seaboard of Visayas due to big waves generated by Labuyo.