MANILA, Philippines — Batanes has been placed under tropical cyclone warning signal No. 2, meaning winds of 61 to 120 kilometers per hour are expected in 24 hours, as the storm “Gorio” (international name: Nesat) intensified into a typhoon and continued to strengthen heading out of the country.
The southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” on the other hand, will continue to affect Luzon.
Two other weather disturbances — typhoon “Noru,” 2,330 kilometers northeast of Batanes and moving southwest at 15 kph with winds of 125 kph and gusts of up to 155 kph; and a tropical depression last tracked 470 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur that was packing 40 kph winds with gusts of up to 50 kph as it moved west-southwest at 13 kph — were also being monitored closely by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Gorio was last tracked 225 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes packing winds of 145 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts of up to 180 kph as it moved northwest at 17 kph.
Pagasa said Batanes will experience stormy weather while the nearby Babuyan Islands, which have been placed under Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds in 36 hours) will have rains and gusty winds. Rainfall within the 500-kilometers diameter of Gorio will be moderate to heavy.
On the other hand, the Ilocos and Cordillera regions and Zambales and Bataan provinces were warned of possible flashfloods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains enhanced by both Gorio and the unnamed tropical depression.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon can expect cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms while the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.
The following local governments and schools have suspended classes at all levels Saturday:
National Capital Region
- Valenzuela
- Malabon
- Marikina
Rizal
- Cainta
- Taytay
Schools
- Our Lady of Fatima University – Valenzuela
- Philippine Normal University – Manila
- Navotas Polytechnic College
- Governor Andres Pascual College
The coastal waters of Luzon will be moderate to rough and Pagasa said sea travel is risky within the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon.
Gorio is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday morning.
