The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said tropical storm ‘Gorio’ (international name “Nesat”) intensified into a severe tropical storm Thursday afternoon and may bring moderate to occasional heavy rains in the western part of Luzon, including Metro Manila, over the weekend.

Light to moderate rains are expected over the rest of Luzon and the Visayas regions.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, ‘Gorio’ was spotted 595 kilometers east of Tugegarao City, Cagayan, with a maximum wind speed of 90 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kilometers per hour.

It is forecast to move northwest at 13 kilometers per hour.

Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 has been raised over the Batanes group is islands

PAGASA said the province could experience 30 to 60 kph of winds within the next 36 hours from the issuance of cyclone warning.

Another storm

Another low pressure area (LPA) west of Luzon may also intensify into a tropical depression.

One of the scenarios PAGASA is looking into is the possible merging of the brewing cyclone with ‘Gorio’.

Paciente said the LPA, which may enter the country’s area of responsibility as a tropical depression by Sunday could merge with Gorio but will not have a direct effect over the Philippines.

Once it intensifies into a tropical depression inside the country’s area of responsibility, the weather disturbance will be locally called ‘Huaning.’

River monitoring

Hydrologist Richard Orendain said PAGASA is closely monitoring the Marikina River Basin as it already reached 14.47 meters at around 11 a.m. Thursday.

He noted that it may reach the 15-meter level within the day (July 27) and may force authorities to sound the first alarm.

Dam watch

Of the dams being monitored by PAGASA, only Ipo Dam has reached its spilling level. But Orendain said excess water from Ipo Dam is being diverted to La Mesa Dam, which is still way below its critical level.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Gilbert S. Gaviola and Ellalyn De Vera Ruiz

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