Manila: Super Typhoon Nando, internationally known as Ragasa and considered one of the most formidable tropical cyclones to affect the Philippines this year, is showing signs of weakening as it prepares to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to the latest report from the weather bureau.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) detailed in its 5 a.m. bulletin on Tuesday that the cyclone now has maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour near the center and gustiness reaching up to 230 km per hour. The storm was last located 265 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan at 4 a.m., continuing its westward movement.
Areas currently under Signal No. 3, such as Ilocos Norte, the northwestern portion of Apayao (Calanasan), and the northwestern section of mainland Cagayan (Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Claveria), including parts of the Babuyan Islands, are expected to experience storm-force winds.
Gale-force winds are anticipated in locations where Signal No. 2 is raised, including Batanes, the remainder of the Babuyan Islands, and various sections of Cagayan and its neighboring provinces. Additionally, areas like Abra, Kalinga, parts of Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, and La Union are under watch for similar conditions.
Regions under Signal No. 1 will experience strong winds, impacting areas such as the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and several parts of Aurora, Mountain Province, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija.
The combination of the southwest monsoon and Nando’s influence is expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts across Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, and the Visayas. A gale warning remains active for the seaboard of northern Luzon.
PAGASA has also warned of a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surges, with peak heights possibly reaching one to three meters within the next 12 hours in low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
In addition to the wind warnings, both Nando and the southwest monsoon are predicted to bring heavy rainfall across Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and several other provinces, increasing the potential for flooding and landslides in these areas.
