'Bebinca' expected to enter PH but may exit within the day — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm «Bebinca» (international name) is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon but will likely exit within the day, the state-run weather agency said.

Weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the severe tropical storm, once inside PAR, would be named «Ferdie,» the sixth storm to hit the country in 2024.

«However, 'Ferdie' would just have a short stay inside PAR as this was predicted to exit the country after a few hours,» Estareja said.

The weather disturbance will be far from the landmass but will still enhance the southwest monsoon or «habagat» even after it is outside PAR, the Pagasa forecaster said.

In particular, habagat is affecting Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao where monsoon rains will prevail, the state weather bureau said in its 5 a.m. advisory.

The trough of Bebinca is bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Quezon and Aurora, Pagasa said.

The trough is also affecting Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will be experienced in 24 hours.