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PAGASA: TS Santi intensifies, may cross Central Luzon


Tropical Storm Santi (Nari) intensified anew early Thursday and may cross Central Luzon after making landfall later this week, state weather forecasters said.
 
PAGASA said Santi was estimated at 400 km east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4 a.m., with maximum winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
 
"Dito sa Aurora magla-landfall tapos babagsak sa Central Luzon (Our models show it may make landfall in Aurora and affect Central Luzon)," PAGASA forecaster Meno Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio.
 
He said the landfall may occur Friday evening, after which Santi may cross Central Luzon and exit via the West Philippine Sea.
 
In the meantime, Mendoza said Santi continues to gather strength as it is still at sea.
 
"Tatawid ito sa Central Luzon at posibleng lumabas sa may West Philippine Sea (It may cross Central Luzon and exit via the West Philippine Sea)," he said.
 
In its 5 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Santi is expected to move west-northwest at 11 kph and is forecast to be 190 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes Friday morning.
 
By Saturday morning, it is expected to be 140 km east of Baler, Aurora. By Sunday morning, it is expected to be in the vicinity of Pangasinan.
 
Storm signals, rain
 
Catanduanes was under Storm Signal No. 1, even as PAGASA said Santi may bring rainfall of 5.0 to 30.0 mm per hour (moderate to intense) within its 300-km diameter.
 
"Residents of areas under Public Storm Warning Signal #1 are alerted againts possible flash floods and landslides," it said.
 
Thursday outlook
 
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Catanduanes will have "rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas."
 
The rest of Bicol will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides, it added.
 
PAGASA said Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be "cloudy with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms."
 
It added the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
 
Meanwhile, light to moderate winds from the north to northwest will prevail over Luzon and blowing from the northwest to southwest over the rest of the country.
 
The coastal waters over the entire archipelago will be slight to moderate, it added. — ELR, GMA News
Tags: weather
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