MANILA: Severe Tropical Storm Nando (international name: Ragasa) grew stronger on Saturday (Sept 20) morning as it continued to approach the Philippine landmass, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Nando was last spotted 780 kilometers (km) east of Casiguran, Aurora, according to the Pagasa’s latest tropical cyclone bulletin.
The severe tropical storm was packing maximum wind speeds of up to 100 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 125 kph, while moving northwestward at 10 kph.
“Nando is forecast to move generally northwestward in the next 24 hours before turning west northwestward towards Extreme Northern Luzon,” Pagasa said.
“On the forecast track, the centre of Nando may pass close or may make landfall over Batanes or Babuyan Islands between Monday (September 22) afternoon or evening. It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday (September 23) morning or noon,” it added.
Pagasa’s previous bulletin on Nando late Friday night said the cyclone grew into a severe tropical storm with maximum wind speeds of up to 95 kph and gusts of up to 115 kph.
Even as Nando approaches the country’s landmass, the state weather bureau has yet to raise a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal.
However, Pagasa did previously warn that Nando could become a super typhoon by Monday. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
