MANILA, Philippines - Storm warning signal number 2 remained hoisted over the Batanes group of islands as Tropical Storm Nando (international name Kong-Rey) moved closer to extreme northern Luzon yesterday afternoon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said stormy weather with rough to very rough seas will continue to prevail in the area over the next 24 hours.
PAGASA also maintained signal no. 1 over Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan group of islands, Apayao and Isabela as of 5 p.m. yesterday.
The weather bureau said these areas will have rains with gusty winds and moderate to rough seas.
Meanwhile, the Ilocos region and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan will have cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the Visayas and Mindanao.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Nando was estimated at 220 kilometers northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 190 km southeast of Basco, Batanes.
The storm packed winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Nando was forecast to move north northwest at 15 kph.
PAGASA warned residents of areas under public storm warning signals as well as those living in the Ilocos region, Zambales and Bataan against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Likewise, those living in coastal areas under storm signal no. 2 were alerted against storm surges.
“Sea travel is risky over the western and eastern seaboards of Luzon,†the weather agency said.
PAGASA said Nando will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring light to moderate and at times heavy rain and thunderstorms over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
Authorities, on the other hand, are monitoring the water level in Magat Dam due to the heavy rains brought by Nando.
Nando was predicted to be 100 km north of Basco or 210 km east of southern Taiwan this afternoon and 580 km northeast of Basco or 180 km northeast of northern Taiwan by tomorrow afternoon.
PAGASA weather forecaster Connie Rose Dadivas said aside from Nando and the southwest monsoon, no other weather disturbance is expected to affect the country in the next days.
Dadivas said Nando could be the last storm to enter the country this month. – With Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig, Rainier Allan Ronda