By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
‘Nando’ has maintained its strength and speed as it continues to approach the landmass of Extreme Northern Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) 5:00 p.m. bulletin.
Super Typhoon Nando was last located 450 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h as it moves westward at 15 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised in the following areas:
- Batanes
- Mainland Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
- Northern and eastern portions of Isabela
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
- Ilocos Norte
- Northern Portion of Ilocos Sur
Wind Signal No. 1 is also hoisted in the following areas:
- Rest of Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Rest of Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Rest of Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Northern and central portions of Zambales
- Nueva Ecija
- Tarlac
- Aurora
- Northern portion of Pampanga
- Northern portion of Bulacan
- Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar), including Polillo Islands
A gale warning, meanwhile, prevails over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, making travel risky on all types of sea vessels in the following areas:
- Up to 14.0 m: The seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands
- Up to 10.0 m: The northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte
- Up to 7.0 m: The remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte
- Up to 5.5 m: The seaboard of Isabela and the northwestern seaboard of Ilocos Sur
- Up to 4.5 m: The northeastern seaboard of Aurora; the remaining seaboard of Ilocos Sur
Waves of up to 3.5 m are also expected over the remaining seaboards of Aurora and the northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands. Three-meter-high waves may be experienced in the seaboards of La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Lubang Island, and Camarines Norte; the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; and the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes.
Up to 2.5 meter high waves are expected over the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; the remaining seaboard of Camarines Sur; and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar.
The state weather bureau noted that Super Typhoon Nando will remain on its west-northwestward track today before turning westward towards Extreme Northern Luzon on Monday.
The weather system may also pass near or make landfall over Batanes or Babuyan Islands by Monday afternoon or evening but may further intensify as it approaches the Philippine landmass.
The state weather bureau advises residents living in low-lying or hazardous areas to follow evacuation procedures from local officials and continue monitoring weather advisories for their respective locales.
av
