By: Ellalyn V. Ruiz and PNA
Gradual improvement in weather condition is expected by tomorrow as typhoon “Gorio” (international name “Nesat”) is expected to leave the country’s area of responsibility this morning.
At around 5 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration estimated the location of Gorio at 360 kilometers north of Basco, Batanes and about to make landfall over Taiwan.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 180 kph.
PAGASA has lifted the tropical cyclone warning over the Babuyan Group of Islands but Batanes remains under Signal No. 1.
Gorio was moving faster at 19 kph but maintained its northwest track.
Weather forecaster Obet Badrina said Gorio could likely leave the country’s area of responsibility this morning.
Meanwhile, the tropical cyclone outside the country’s area of responsibility or west of Laoag City has intensified into a storm. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 90 kph and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
Both weather disturbances will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” which will bring moderate to occasional heavy rains over the western section of Northern and Central Luzon.
Light to moderate rains will be felt in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
Badrina said PAGASA is not discounting the possible entry of the tropical storm inside the country’s area of responsibility, but may not stay long inside the vicinity.
It is forecast to move at 20 kph northeast.
Areas earlier affected by heavy monsoon rains, including Metro Manila, will experience improving weather by tomorrow, he added.
However, PAGASA advised of risky sea travel over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon.
This afternoon, Gorio will be 665 kms north-northwest of Basco or outside the country’s area of responsibility.
Meanwhile, inclement weather caused by Gorio has so far affected 1,254 individuals frm 326 families in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
The NDRRMC bared that the affected families are from two barangays in Pampanga, and one barangay each in Malabon City and Valenzuela City.
