The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is closely monitoring tropical storm ‘Nando’ as it slightly intensifies while moving west-northwestward.
In an early morning advisory Friday, PAGASA said no tropical cyclone wind signal has been raised yet, but warned that the storm will keep gathering strength and may reach typhoon category by Saturday evening.
“It may move in a loop pattern today (Friday) before turning northwestward to west northwestward from this evening until Monday (21 September) early morning. Afterwards, it is forecast to move generally westward while approaching Extreme Northern Luzon,” PAGASA said.
‘Nando’ is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday afternoon or evening. Further intensification into super typhoon category has not been ruled out.
As of this writing, the storm was located at 1,075 kilometers east of Central Luzon. It was moving northwestward at 15 km per hour with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
“‘Nando’ is less likely to directly affect the weather in the next 48 hours. Onset of heavy rains due to the southwest monsoon and ‘Nando’ is possible by Sunday (21 September) or Monday (22 September),” PAGASA noted in its advisory.
