‘Lando’ Weakens But Will Still Bring Rains Over N. Luzon

Rains with gusty winds are still expected in Northern Luzon as tropical storm “Lando” has weakened into a tropical depression while traversing Balintang channel, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said that as of 4 a.m. Wednesday, Lando was estimated at 60 km north of Calayan, Cagayan (19.8°N, 121.5°E) packed with maximum winds of 55 kph near the center. It is forecast to move northeast at 6 kph.

He said the tropical depression is expected to weaken into low pressure area within the next 24 hours.

The weather will gradually improve in most parts of Luzon except in Northern Luzon as public storm warning signals elsewhere have already lifted.

Quitlong said Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) no. 1 (30-60kph expected in 36 hours) remains hoisted in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Batanes and Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands.

Occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over provinces under signal no. 1. Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

The estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 500-km diameter of the tropical depression.

Fisherfolk are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon as the sea condition will be rough to very rough due to the presence of tropical depression Lando and northeast monsoon.

For Wednesday forecast, PAGASA said rains with gusty winds will prevail over Ilocos Norte, Batanes, Apayao and Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over the rest of the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the northwest to southwest will prevail over Visayas and the rest of Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the south to southwest with slight to moderate seas. (PNA) JBP/CLTC