Manila: Super Typhoon Nando, internationally known as Ragasa, has maintained its strength and may pass close to or make landfall over the Babuyan Islands by Monday noon or afternoon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 in some areas.

According to Philippines News Agency, PAGASA’s latest 5 a.m. weather bulletin reported that Nando is packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour near the center, with gustiness reaching up to 250 kilometers per hour. As of 4 a.m., the typhoon was last tracked 245 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan.

Strong to typhoon-force winds are anticipated in areas currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5, which include the northern portion of Babuyan Islands: Babuyan, Didicas, Panuitan, and Calayan. Areas under TCWS No. 4, such as the southeastern portion of Batanes and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, will experience typhoon-force winds.

Storm-force w
inds are expected in areas under TCWS No. 3, including the rest of Batanes, northern and central portions of mainland Cagayan, northern and central portions of Apayao, and northern and central portions of Ilocos Norte. Meanwhile, TCWS No. 2 is in effect for the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, and several other provinces, where gale-force winds will prevail.

The rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, and other regions have been placed under Signal No. 1, with strong winds expected. The southwest monsoon and Nando’s trough are forecast to cause strong to gale-force gusts across various regions including Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and the Davao Region.

A gale warning is in effect over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of central Luzon. Furthermore, there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge, with peak heights exceeding three meters within the next 24 hours, over low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.