Storm alert up as Gorio intensifies

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau raised storm signals over parts of the country as Tropical Depression Gorio further intensified yesterday. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said storm warning signal No. 1 was hoisted over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, Masbate, Polilio Island, Samar, Leyte, Biliran Island, Dinagat Island and Siargao Island as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Gorio was spotted at 290 kilometers east of Surigao City with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph).

Gorio was forecast to make landfall over Samar this afternoon.

It was forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph. It could still intensify into a storm while over the sea, the weather bureau said.

Weather forecaster Chris Perez said rains will be more frequent over eastern Visayas today as Gorio moves closer to land.

Rains will also affect the Bicol region and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas.

By tomorrow, the cyclone will move closer to Quezon-Aurora and is expected to bring “considerable” amount of rains over Metro Manila and central and northern Luzon.

Residents of the Visayas and Mindanao, however, could expect improved weather condition by Sunday evening.

Gorio is predicted to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday and move toward southern China.

Perez said the rains experienced in Metro Manila and nearby areas yesterday were due to localized thunderstorms.

Gorio is predicted to be 60 km southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar this afternoon; 40 km northeast of Infanta, Quezon tomorrow afternoon, and 150 km west of Laoag City by Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday prohibited vessels in areas under storm warning signal from sailing out to sea. –  With Evelyn Macairan