Nanmadol intensifies, to continue enhancing Habagat

Severe Tropical Storm Nanmadol has slightly intensified as it moves west northwestward, PAGASA said Thursday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Nanmadol is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass and will not directly affect the weather condition in the country.

However, the southwest monsoon, enhanced by the severe tropical storm, is expected to bring monsoon rains over the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the next 24 hours.

The Nanmadol-enhanced southwest monsoon may also bring gusty conditions from strong breeze to near-gale strength over Visayas, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and the northern and western portions of Mindanao, especially in coastal and mountainous or upland areas, PAGASA said.

Nanmadol is forecast to move west northwestward on Thursday through Friday, then turn northwestward on Saturday.

Based on the track forecast, Nanmadol may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Thursday tonight or Friday morning.

The domestic name Josie will be assigned to the tropical cyclone once it enters PAR.

As of 10 a.m. the center of Nanmadol was estimated based on all available data at 1,760 km east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon.

Moving west northwestward at 15 km/h, Nanmadol is packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 135 km/h, and central pressure of 975 hPa.

It has strong to storm-force winds extend outwards up to 460 km from the center. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News