Brace for rainy weekend – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau advised yesterday Luzon residents to brace for rains and occasional gusty winds this weekend due to the approaching tropical cyclone.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the tropical depression was spotted at 2,270 kilometers east of Luzon as of 10 a.m. yesterday.

It packed winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and was moving westward at 25 kph.

PAGASA marine meteorological services section chief Rene Paciente said the tropical cyclone has a high chance of intensifying into a tropical storm before it enters the Philippine area of responsibility tonight.

Although the cyclone is not expected to make landfall, it could still bring moderate to heavy rains and occasional gusty winds in Northern and Central Luzon, particularly the eastern section on Saturday and Sunday, he said.

“It is expected to move closest to Isabela-Cagayan area on Sunday,” Paciente said.

He said the cyclone, which will be locally named Lando, is likely to slow down as it passes near landmass in Isabela and Cagayan.

In its weekly weather outlook, PAGASA said Metro Manila, rest of Luzon and the Visayas will be cloudy with rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms beginning tomorrow until Saturday. Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

The cyclone will bring stormy weather in Northern Luzon on Sunday and Monday, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have rains and occasional gusty winds.