PAGASA Poised to Raise Storm Signals Over Luzon as ‘Lando’ Moves Closer to Cagayan

Tropical storm “Lando” has maintained its strength and will threaten most parts of Luzon in the next two to three days or until weekend, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Shaira Nonot said that as of 4 a.m. Thursday, tropical storm Lando was spotted 1,185 km east of Baler, Aurora (15.2N, 132.6E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move west at 22 kph.

Nonot said the state weather bureau will raise public storm warning signal in the areas of east of Northern and Central Luzon within the day.

She added tropical storm Lando is expected to make landfall in Cagayan by Sunday and will exit PAR by Tuesday towards China.

The tropical storm is seen to move slowly in the coming days because of a change in its movement from westward to west northwest.

For Thursday forecast, Nonot said the presence of northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with light rains over Cordillera, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.

She added the outer spiral of tropical storm Lando will bring light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Bicol region and the provinces of Rizal, Quezon and Samar while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast to northwest with slight to moderate seas.

Meanwhile, fisherfolk are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon due to strong to gale force winds associated with northeast monsoon and tropical storm Lando. (PNA) JBP/CLTC