MANILA—Tropical Storm “Pilandok” has strengthened while the Southwest Monsoon continues to affect Luzon and Visayas, bringing rains and thunderstorms over parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday.

In its 4 a.m. weather forecast, PAGASA said the center of Pilandok, internationally known as Krovahn, was estimated at 1,200 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon at 3 a.m.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It was moving east-northeastward at 10 kph.

Another tropical cyclone, Tropical Storm Saudel, formerly “Obet,” was outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of 3 a.m.

Saudel was located 560 kilometers west of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph, gustiness of up to 80 kph, and was moving northeastward at 15 kph.

PAGASA forecast occasional rains over Batanes due to the Southwest Monsoon, with possible flash floods or landslides from moderate to heavy rains.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms are expected over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales and Bataan. The weather agency warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Metro Manila, Visayas and the rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, with flash floods or landslides possible during severe thunderstorms.

Mindanao will likewise have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms caused by localized thunderstorms, with similar risks during severe thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong southwest winds will prevail over Luzon and Visayas, where coastal waters are expected to be moderate to rough, with waves reaching 1.5 to 4 meters.

Mindanao will experience light to moderate winds from the south to southwest, with slight to moderate coastal waters and wave heights of 0.6 to 2.1 meters.