Gardo maintains strength on its way northwest toward PAR

Typhoon Gardo (international name Maria) remained strong as it moved northwest toward the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday, PAGASA said.

At 8 a.m. Sunday, the eye of the typhoon was spotted at 1,820 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, still outside PAR.

It had maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 225 kph.

It was moving northwest at 15 kph, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. advisory.

By Monday morning, Gardo is expected to be 1,315 km east of Basco, Batanes, still outside PAR.

However it is expected to enter PAR within the morning of Monday. PAGASA does not expect Gardo to make landfall.

By Tuesday  morning, it is expected to be 780 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, inside PAR.

Gardo is expected to be outside PAR by Wednesday morning, when it will be 555 km north of Extreme Northern Luzon.

The typhoon may enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat), PAGASA said.

Monsoon rains will be felt over Mimaropa and Panay island until Tuesday.

Metro Manila, the rest of Western Visayas, and the western sections of Calabarzon and Central Luzon will have occasional rains.

PAGASA advised residents to take the necessary precautions against possible flash floods and landslides, and to coordinate with the local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

The next update will be given during the 4 p.m. public weather forecast on Sunday. —KG, GMA News