TROPICAL depression “Mirasol” exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) yesterday morning, hours after another tropical depression, which has the potential of becoming a super typhoon, entered the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA said the new tropical depression, which was named “Nando” entered the PAR at 8 p.m. Wednesday. As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Nando was some 1,260 km east of Central Luzon. It was moving northwestward at 15 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
“On the forecast track, the center of Nando may pass close or may make landfall over Babuyan Islands,” PAGASA said in a bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday.
PAGASA said Nando, the country’s 14th tropical cyclone for this year, will continue to gain strength while in the Philippine Sea. It was forecast to intensify into a tropical storm and severe tropical storm today, and into a typhoon on Saturday.
“Further intensification into super typhoon category while traversing the extreme Northern Luzon is not ruled out,” PAGASA said.
“Onset of heavy rains is possible by Sunday or Monday,” PAGASA said in a separate advisory.
Mirasol exited at 6 a.m. yesterday. As of 3 p.m. yesterday, it was some 465 km west northwest of Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
PAGASA said Mirasol “is now less likely to bring significant heavy rainfall over Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur” but scattered rains and thunderstorms are still expected in Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zambales, and Bataan until today.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said some 17,200 families have been affected by Mirasol. They are from 70 barangays in five regions —
Regions I (Ilocos), II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), V (Bicol Region), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Food packs have provided to those affected, the DSWD said. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
