By: Aliahcorr Balanon
DOST PAGASA
Tropical storm ‘Nando’ (international name: Ragasa) to become a supertyphoon on Monday, Sept. 22, announced by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Nando is expected to strengthen into a severe tropical storm on Friday, Sept. 19; later in the day, Sept. 20, to intensify into a typhoon, and possibly peak as a super typhoon by Monday, Sept. 22 as it approaches Cagayan and province’s Babuyan Islands.
Nando was last spotted 1,005 kilometers east of Central Luzon, carrying a maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gusts up to 90 kph.
PAGASA also warned that moderate to rough seas are expected over most coastal waters of Luzon starting Sunday, Sept. 21 with waves possibly reaching up to 14 meters as Nando approaches extreme northern Luzon.
“Nando will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea. It may reach typhoon category tomorrow (Saturday) and supertyphoon by Monday before its close approach to Babuyan Islands,” PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, the Tropical cyclone is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Within the next 24 hours, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected over Cagayan Valley, the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes, PAGASA said.
"There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 m within the next 72 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur," PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will continue to bring rains to the rest of the country.