Storm Bavi may hit Bicol, Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm Bavi, presently hovering over the Pacific Ocean, is likely to hit Bicol and the Visayas, the state weather bureau warned yesterday.

Robert Sawi, senior weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said that based on climatological data, tropical cyclones in March usually hit the Bicol-Visayas area.

However, some of the cyclones that enter the Philippine area of responsibility in March veer northward or towards Japan, Sawi said.

“During March, the usual track of the cyclones is Bicol-Visayas area, but some of these cyclones re-curve after crossing the Philippine area of responsibility,” Sawi explained.

Bavi is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility late Tuesday or early Wednesday, he said.

Sawi said Bavi could gain more strength as it approaches the Philippine area of responsibility.

“We are still monitoring it. But we expect it to enter the Philippine area of responsibility and pass near the country’s landmass,” Sawi said.

The storm’s estimated location as of Friday morning was at 4,000 kilometers east of Mindanao, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph. It is also tracking northwest at 25 kph.

The weather disturbance was not expected to affect the country until the weekend.

Once Bavi enters the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be locally named Betty, the second tropical cyclone of the year and the first for the month.