'Nando' won't make landfall - PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression "Nando" may stay within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until Thursday, but will not make landfall, the state weather bureau said Monday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Fernando Cada that the cyclone will continue to move upward via the eastern side of the country and head towards Taiwan by Thursday.

As of 10 a.m., the center of the cyclone was estimated at 480 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour, moving northwest at a speed of 15 kph.

Public storm warning signal number 1 has been raised over the Batanes Group of Islands.

PAGASA said the estimated rainfall amount within the 400 kilometer diameter of the cyclone is from 5 millimeter to 15 millimeter.

It said the cyclone will enhance the southwest monsoon and bring light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Southern Luzon, Metro Manila and Western Visayas.

"Sea travel is risky over the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon," PAGASA said.

Weather forecaster Jun Galang, meanwhile, said the cyclone will most likely intensify into a tropical storm but said that its rains will not be as heavy as Maring's, which swamped Metro Manila and parts of Luzon last week, leaving at least 25 people dead and thousands displaced.