QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The trough of Severe Tropical Storm Choi-Wan is forecast to bring overcast skies, scattered rainshowers, and thunderstorms across broad sections of the Visayas and Mindanao, state weather bureau PAGASA reported on Friday, October 2.
In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that moderate to heavy rainfall driven by the storm’s extension could trigger flash floods and landslides in Mindanao, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and the Negros Island Region.
The remainder of the Visayas is expected to see partly cloudy to cloudy conditions accompanied by isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to the storm’s trough. Authorities cautioned that severe localized downpours may also lead to sudden flooding or soil degradation in vulnerable communities.
Conversely, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience generally fair weather with partly cloudy to cloudy skies, alongside brief isolated rainshowers caused by localized thunderstorms.
As of 3 a.m., Choi-Wan was located 2,495 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, remaining outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The severe tropical storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near its center, with gusts reaching up to 115 kph, while moving west-northwestward at a speed of 10 kph.
PAGASA advised residents in high-risk areas to stay vigilant and monitor official weather updates for potential hazards linked to heavy precipitation.