Luzon, Metro Manila brace for 'Lando'

MANILA, Philippines (First published 9:21 a.m.) —  Storm warning signals are raised in several areas in Luzon as severe tropical storm "Lando" has intensified into typhoon, weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday.

A typhoon is an intense tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 118 kilometers per hour (kph).

Satellite image of Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) released by US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center as of 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.

Public storm warning signals are up in the following areas:

Signal No. 1

• Cagayan
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mt. Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan,
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Rizal
• Laguna
• rest of Quezon
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Metro Manila

Signal No. 2

• Aurora
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Nueva Ecija
• Northern Quezon including Polillo Island

Areas under storm warning signals will experience occasional rains gusty winds starting tomorrow.

PAGASA warned that storm surges are possible in the eastern coast of Isabela, Aurora, Quezon and Camarines provinces.

At 4 p.m., the typhoon was located 510 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gusts 160 kph. It is likely to move west at 15 kph.

Track of Typhoon Lando from the Philippines Crisis Map of Google Crisis Response as of noontime on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.

Lando is forecasted to make landfall over Aurora-Isabela Sunday and will cross northern Luzon. The weather bureau warned that the typhoon might linger in the Philippine area of responsibility as late as Friday next week.

The estimated rainfall amount is from heavy to intense within the 600-kilometer diameter of the typhoon.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or "amihan" will continue to affect northern and central Luzon. Metro Manila, regions of Cordillera, Ilocos and Central Luzon will experience cloudy skies with light rains.

"Fisherfolk are advised not to venture out over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon, western seaboard of Central Luzon and eastern seaboard of Visayas," PAGASA said.