By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
‘Nando’ increased its strength and speed as its storm cloud coverage blankets Northern and Central Luzon with torrential rains, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) 11:00 a.m. bulletin.
Super Typhoon Nando was last located 110 km east of Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 265 km/h as it moves westward at 20 km/h.
The weather system’s intensification has led the state weather bureau to hoist Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 over Babuyan Islands, with more areas also being placed under Wind Signal No. 4:
- Southern portion of Batanes (Basco, Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan, Sabtang)
- Northern of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, Camalaniugan)
- Northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Burgos, Bangui, Dumalneg, Adams)
TCWS No. 3:
- Rest of Batanes
- Central portion of mainland Cagayan (Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Alcala, Santo Niño, Lasam, Allacapan, Rizal, Amulung, Piat)
- Northern and central portions of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Pudtol, Luna, Calanasan, Kabugao)
- Rest of Ilocos Norte
TCWS No. 2:
- Rest of mainland Cagayan
- Isabela
- Rest of Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Bakun, Kibungan)
- Northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi)
- Ilocos Sur
- Northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Santol)
TCWS No. 1:
- Quirino
- Rest of Nueva Vizcaya
- Rest of Benguet
- Rest of La Union
- Pangasinan
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Bulacan
- Tarlac
- Pampanga
- Zambales
- Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, including Polillo Islands)
PAGASA meanwhile issued a gale warning 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 12.0 m: The northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte.
• Up to 10.0 m: The northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; the remaining seaboards of Ilocos Norte.
• Up to 8.0 m: The northwestern seaboard of Ilocos Sur; the remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan.
• Up to 5.5 m: The remaining seaboard of Ilocos Sur; the seaboard of Isabela, and the western seaboard of Pangasinan.
• Up to 5.0 m: The northeastern seaboard of Aurora; the northwestern seaboard of La Union.
Rough seas with up to four-meter-high waves are also expected over the seaboard of Zambales, the remaining seaboards of Aurora, and the northern and eastern seaboard of Polillo Islands.
Up to 3.5-meter waves may affect the remaining seaboards of La Union and Pangasinan; the seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Island, and Camarines Norte; the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; the northwestern seaboard of Occidental Mindoro, and the western seaboard of Calamian Islands.
Super typhoon Nando is expected to continue on its westward track towards Babuyan Islands, and may also pass near or make landfall over Batanes or Babuyan Islands by Monday afternoon or evening.
The state weather bureau is also monitoring another Low Pressure Area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), which has a “medium” chance of developing into a storm and would be named “Ompong” once it enters PAR.
avds
