MANILA, Philippines — At least nine areas in Luzon were placed under public storm warning signal Sunday, as tropical storm “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) threatens to make landfall over Isabela-Aurora area on Monday evening.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eye of the storm was located 460 kilometers (km) east -northeast of Virac, Catanduanes last Sunday afternoon.
PAGASA upgraded “Pedring” to a severe tropical storm (95 to 118 kilometers per hour) packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour (kph) near its eye and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
Senior weather forecaster Mario Palafox said the storm has moved faster towards the west at 28 kph.
He explained that if the speed and direction are maintained, the weather disturbance may hit the landmass of Isabela or Aurora by Monday evening.
“It is also expected to intensify into a typhoon before it makes a landfall,” Palafox said.
Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Catanduanes province Sunday afternoon.
Areas placed under Signal No. 1 were Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon, Quezon, Polillo Island, and Aurora.
He added that these areas will experience moderate to heavy rains in the next 24 hours.
Likewise, Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon will experience moderate to heavy rains due to the “combined effects of southwest monsoon (hanging habagat) and the outer spiral of the tropical cyclone” starting Monday afternoon.
“Pedring” is expected to be at 190 km east of Baler, Aurora by Monday afternoon and at 140 km west-northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur by Tuesday afternoon.
By Wednesday afternoon, it will be at 510 km northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur or at 540 km west of Basco, Batanes.
Palafox said “Pedring” may likely move out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday morning. (ELLALYN B. DE VERA)