‘Paolo’ intensifies to typhoon, unlikely to hit land – PAGASA

Tropical cyclone “Paolo” (international name “Lan”) has further intensified into a typhoon but is not likely to hit land, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

According to PAGASA, Paolo was moving north-northwest, or away from the country, as of Wednesday.

It was estimated at 735 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 145 kph.

While it is not expected to make landfall over any part of the Philippines, Paolo’s outer rainbands will bring scattered moderate to occasional heavy rains over Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rains due to Paolo will prevail over Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, and Visayas.

PAGASA warned these areas of possible flash floods and landslides. Leaving Sunday

Paolo will likely leave the country’s area of responsibility by Sunday, if it maintains its north-northwest track at 20 kph.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area (LPA) earlier sighted was estimated at 280 km west of Puerto Princesa City.

This weather system will bring scattered light to moderate with possible occasional heavy rains over Palawan.

PAGASA said sea travel is risky over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and of Mindanao. Metro weather

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies apart from isolated rain showers mostly in the afternoon or evening due to localized thunderstorms. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)

BALLOT RECOUNT — The Senate Electoral Tribunal starts the recount of ballots included in the electoral protest of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino against detained Sen. Leila de Lima. In his protest, Tolentino claimed massive fraud and irregularities, including ballot preshading, tampering of the Automated Election System, impossible 100 percent voter turnout, and non-counting of votes. Tolentino lost by 1.3 million votes to De Lima, who got the 12th senatorial spot, in the 2016 elections. (Mark Balmores)