More ‘habagat’ downpour ahead as ‘Gorio’ intensifies

PAGASA expects ‘Gorio’ to hover around the Batanes area until this weekend. (ShutterStock image)

MANILA — Storm ‘Gorio’ (international name ‘Nesat’) on Thursday afternoon (July 27) intensified into a severe tropical storm with moderate to heavy rainfall within its 550-km diameter.

“This weather system will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila, and light to moderate rains over rest of Luzon and the Visayas,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin released Thursday.

PAGASA located ‘Gorio’ at 595 km east of Cagayan province’s Tuguegarao City as of 4 p.m. Thursday.

‘Gorio’ packed maximum sustained winds of 90 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 115 kph, noted PAGASA.

‘Gorio’ was forecast to move northwest at 13 kph, PAGASA said.

Tropical cyclone warning signal 1 prevails over Batanes province where PAGASA expects 30 kph to 60 kph winds in the next 36 hours.

PAGASA warned such winds can fan in Batanes waves up to 4.0 meters high and cause there “slight” damage to either some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities.

The agency urged the public to prepare accordingly and observe caution.

According to PAGASA, ‘Gorio’ will likely be 400 km east of Batanes’ capital Basco municipality by Friday afternoon (July 28).

PAGASA expects ‘Gorio’ to hover around the Batanes area until this weekend.

However, PAGASA forecast ‘Gorio’ to be some 595 km north-northwest of Basco by Monday afternoon (July 31), which is already outside Philippine Area of Responsibility.