'Vinta' now a storm; Signal #1 up in 3 areas

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression "Vinta" has intensified into a storm as it continues to move westward and threaten parts of Luzon, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

In its 5 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Vinta was last observed at 690 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

It is packed with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

The storm is expected to move west at 19 kilometers per hour and to be at 370 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes by Thursday morning.

Public storm warning signal no. 1 has been hoisted over the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.

PAGASA said these areas will have rains and gusty winds with rough to very rough seas.

The agency said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within the 500-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.

Quezon province, Bicol region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and the rest of Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over the rest of northern and central Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast to northwest with slight to moderate seas.