If typhoon “Butchoy” had not skipped to Okinawa, Japan, Cebu could have also been hit by another strong typhoon.Butchoy, packing maximum center winds of 175 kph and gusting to 210 kph, was hovering over the Philippine Sea some 790 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes Saturday afternoon. It was moving north at 19 kph and was forecast to be 990 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, by Sunday morning.
Ella Comahig, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan, said yesterday that Pagasa has been tracking the typhoon and has determined that it was heading to Okinawa, Japan on Friday. "It's on its way out. It's quite strong but it has no more effect on the archipelago,'' said Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa weather branch chief. “Maklaro mana sa satellite. Dako gyud ang mata sa bagyo. Matabunan ang tibuok Philippines. (It is seen through the satellite. The eye of the typhoon is big. It could cover the whole Philippines.),” said Comahig. ‘Butchoy’ had not entered inland on the eastern part of the Visayas. Otherwise, she said, it could hit Surigao, Leyte, Samar, Bicol and southern Luzon before passing through Batanes. Boy Artiaga, Observer 4 of Pagasa, said Butchoy was 710 km east, northeast of Basco Batanes last night and was expected in Aparri, Cagayan today. He said the typhoon was expected to leave the country by Tuesday. The typhoon, however, would induce the southwest monsoon to bring rain to the western sections of the Visayas, which includes Cebu, and Mindanao on Sunday and in the next few days. Artiaga said the southwest monsoon's winds are quite strong resulting to the fast movement of the clouds, which leads to scattered rain showers. "There will be rainy weather there either tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday,'' Cruz said in a phone interview. "The rain will become significant in the coming days.'' Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with rain showers today. The showers will become more widespread in the western sections of the Visayas and Mindanao later in the day, including Panay Island, Pagasa said. Pagasa warned of moderate to strong winds in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao today, and moderate to rough waves in coastal waters. "We will continue to experience localized thunderstorms in Metro Manila in the afternoon or early evening,'' Cruz said. Inquirer with a report from Correspondent Hayde D. Quiñanola | 
