Tropical Storm Karen (international name "Sanba") strengthened to a typhoon yesterday as it moved northwest. It is expected to bring rains over some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao this weekend. Meanwhile a new potential cyclone was spotted off Zambales.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Karen was spotted at 740 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora as of 4 p.m. yesterday.
Karen was packing winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gustiness of up to 160 kph.
It was forecast to move northwest at 15 kph.
No storm warning signals have been raised as of yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the low pressure area was estimated at 580 km west of Iba, Zambales.
Occasional moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Central Luzon, Bicol region and Eastern Visayas will be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rains. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms in the evening, Pagasa said.
Metro Manila will be cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest and Manila Bay will be moderate to rough.
The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also urged fishermen not to sail towards the country’s eastern seaboard.
Karen is the 11th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first weather disturbance this month.