The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is still closely monitoring Super Typhoon ‘Nando,’ which keeps moving northwest over the West Philippine Sea, as a new tropical depression is about to enter the country.
In an advisory issued at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, PAGASA said ‘Nando’ continues to affect weather conditions in the country even if it has already exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by 8:00 a.m.
The super typhoon is currently approaching southern China, where it is expected to land.
“’Nando’ will likely maintain its strength within the next 24 hours before beginning to weaken due to marginally favorable environment over the waters south of mainland China and the increasing frictional effects due to proximity to land,” PAGASA said.
‘Nando’ was last tracked moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. It is forecast to move at 585 kilometers west of Itbayat, Batanes by 8:00 p.m. tonight outside PAR.
At present, PAGASA maintained tropical cyclone wind signals no. 2 over the western portion of the Babuyan Islands, northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, northern portion of Apayao, and Ilocos Norte due to Super Typhoon ‘Nando.’
Signal No. 1, meanwhile, remained over Batanes, the rest of Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, northern portion of Isabela, the rest of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northwestern portion of Pangasinan.
As this developed, PAGASA reported that the low pressure area located east of southern Luzon has developed into a tropical depression, which will be named ‘Opong’ once it officially enters PAR.
It was monitored at 1,075 east of Eastern Visayas region with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph with gusts of up to 70 kph. It was moving westward at 35 kph with strong winds extending outwards up to 160 kph.
