Tropical Storm Bebinca enhances southwest monsoon, brings rains

Tropical Storm Bebinca is enhancing the southwest monsoon, bringing rains across several parts of the Philippines.

As of Wednesday morning, Bebinca was located 1,825 kilometers east northeast of Eastern Visayas, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gusts up to 105 kph.

The storm is expected to intensify into a severe tropical storm within 24 hours and may reach typhoon category late Thursday.

Bebinca is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon or evening, where it will be named Ferdie.

It is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass and exit PAR on Saturday morning.

The enhanced southwest monsoon may bring heavy rainfall over Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas, and the northern and western portions of Mindanao.

Moderate seas are also expected over the western seaboard of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands and the eastern seaboard of southern Palawan and Mindanao.