Tropical Storm Nando has intensified while moving slowly west northwest over the Philippine Sea.
DOST-PAGASA weather specialist Lori Dela Cruz-Galicia reported Friday morning that as of 5 a.m., Nando’s center was spotted 1,075 kilometers east of Central Luzon.
It carried maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was moving at 15 kph.
“Medyo may kabagalan ang kanyang movement sa ngayon, at sa kasalukuyan, wala pa naman itong direktang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng ating kalupaan in terms of rainfall o mga pag-ulan,” she said.
Galicia added that Nando may further intensify into a typhoon by Saturday evening or Sunday morning, and possibly become a super typhoon before nearing Luzon.
As early as Saturday, signal warnings may already be raised in some areas to give enough lead time for preparation.
The latest forecast track shows Nando moving generally northwestward in the next two days, before slightly shifting west northwest.
There is a high chance it will either make landfall in the northern tip of Luzon or make a close approach, affecting much of northern and central Luzon.
Meanwhile, the former typhoon, Mirasol, has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
As of 3 a.m., it was located 565 kilometers west of Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gusts of up to 90 kph. It has no direct impact on the country.
The southwest monsoon continues to bring rains in the western parts of the country.
Occasional gusty winds are expected over Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas today. By Saturday, rains and winds are likely over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga. On Sunday, these conditions will persist in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga.
For Friday, cloudy skies with high chances of rain are expected over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, and Bataan. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of thunderstorms.
At present, no gale warning is in effect in any part of the country’s seas. Waves will be moderate over northern and central Luzon, and slight to moderate elsewhere.
