CEBU, Philippines - The state weather bureau assured that Cebuanos need not worry as tropical storm Lando makes landfall today.
Oscar Tabada, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Visayas, however, warned that strong waves are expected from Saturday to Wednesday as Lando is expected to make landfall in Isabela tonight.
Based on the latest forecast of PAGASA, Cebu will experience windy weather with few light rains in the next four days.
“Wala kaayo ta’y uwan, light rains lang but affected ta sa kusog nga hangin. So dako’g bawod ang dagat ana,” Tabada said.
As of yesterday afternoon, Lando (international name Koppu) was located 855 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.
It is forecasted to move west at 17 kph. Its northeast monsoon is affecting northern and central Luzon.
The tropical storm is expected to make landfall in Cagayan by Sunday and will exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday.
In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin yesterday, PAGASA said cloudy skies with light rains will be expected over the regions of Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon while light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Bicol region and the provinces of Aurora, Rizal, Quezon and Samar.
The rest of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, Tabada confirmed that there has been no more thin haze over Cebu and other areas.
He said the haze-like phenomenon has ended last week as the wind direction changed from northeast monsoon.
Light to moderate smoke has shrouded Cebu, Siquijor, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Davao City and Palawan Island since the last week of September.
The thin haze was reportedly smoke from wildfires and other pollutants in the neighboring countries in Southeast Asia like Indonesia. (FREEMAN)