‘Gorio’-threatened Batanes may see giant waves, storm surges

Batanes. (Photo: Allan Ascaño/Flickr, CC BY 2.0.)

MANILA — Sea turbulence and light to moderate damages are possible in Northern Luzon’s Batanes province where government on Friday raised the tropical cyclone warning signal (TCWS) from 1 to 2, expecting 61 kph to 120 kph winds there in the next 24 hours.

Such winds can fan there sea waves as high as 14.0 meters, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned in its Severe Weather Bulletin 10 released Friday.

“Storm surge is possible in coastal areas,” PAGASA said further.

PAGASA urged caution, noting severe tropical storm ‘Gorio’ (international name ‘Nesat’) already intensified into a typhoon this Friday and continues nearing Batanes.

Government on Friday also raised TCWS 1 over Northern Luzon’s Babuyan Islands, expecting in the next 36 hours 30 kph to 60 kph winds that can cause there very light damages and waves up to 4.0 meters high.

‘Gorio’ was 300 km east of Batanes’ capital Basco municipality as of 4 p.m. Friday, noted PAGASA.

That typhoon packed then maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 145 kph, PAGASA said.

According to PAGASA, ‘Gorio’ and the tropical depression over West Philippine Sea will continue enhancing the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat.’

The enhanced ‘habagat’ will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Luzon’s western section, which includes Metro Manila, and light to moderate rains over rest of Luzon.

Forecast movement of ‘Gorio’ is northwestwards at 15 kph, PAGASA said.

PAGASA expects ‘Gorio’ to be 225 km north-northeast of Basco by Saturday afternoon (July 29).

‘Gorio’ will likely be 450 km north-northwest of Basco by Sunday afternoon (July 30) – already outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, PAGASA added.