Mario makes landfall over north Cagayan; 14 areas under storm signals

(Updated 12:12 p.m.) Tropical Storm Mario (Fung-Wong) made landfall over the northern tip of Cagayan province Friday noon, PAGASA said. 

 

In its weather bulletin, PAGASA said Mario maintained its strength of maximum winds of 85 kph and gustiness of 100 kph.

 

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said Mario was estimated at 64 km north-northeast of Tuguegarao City, moving west-northwest at 22 kph. It is expected to be at Calayan Islands Friday evening.

 

By Saturday morning, it is expected to be 190 km northwest of Itbayat in Batanes and by Sunday morning, it is expected to be 680 km north of Itbayat or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Even before it made landfall, heavy rain from Mario and the southwest monsoon swamped Metro Manila and nearby areas, rompting the suspension of classes and government work in the capital and nearby provinces, as well as the suspension of bank clearing and trading at the stock exchange.

 

Areas uder Storm Signal No. 2 are:

 

 

Those under Signal No. 1 are:

 

 

PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals to be on alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

 

PAGASA said Mario may bring rainfall of 7 to 20 mm per hour (moderate to intense) within its 350-km diameter.

 

It added that Mario and the Southwest Monsoon will bring moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

 

At the same time, PAGASA warned fisherfolk and those with small seacraft not to venture out over the western seaboard of central Luzon, seaboards of southern Luzon and Visayas and eastern seaboard of Mindanao. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News