TROPICAL Storm Nock-ten continued to barrel toward the country and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on early Friday morning when it will be called “Nina,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Thursday.
The state weather bureau said the storm, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 95 kph, was spotted 1,320 kilometers east of Mindanao at 4 p.m. Thursday and is moving west northwest at 23 kph.
Pagasa forecast cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms over the Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao regions while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains is expected over the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, Pagasa added.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s Pre Disaster Risk Assessment Core Group ameets in preparation for Nock-Ten.
The NDRRMC is continuously monitoring weather updates as TS Nock-Ten moves closer to PAR and alerted people living in low-lying areas against possible landslides and flash floods.
Sea travel is risky over the northern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon due to the surge of the Northeast Monsoon. Communities with volcanoes in affected areas are likewise warned for possible debris/lahar flow.
All Regional and Local DRRM Councils likely to be affected has been advised to take precautionary measures as necessary.
The public is advised to stay vigilant this holiday season, heed to the advice of LGUs and monitor weather updates through radio, television and social media.