PAGASA: Nanmadol maintains strength as it enhances Habagat

Typhoon Nanmadol, which is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), has maintained its strength while moving westward, PAGASA said on Thursday evening.

In its 11 p.m. Tropical Cyclone Advisory, PAGASA said Nanmadol is forecast to move generally west northwestward on Friday, then northwestward on Sunday and northwestward thereafter.

Nanmadol may enter PAR on Friday morning or afternoon, which will by then be given the domestic name “Josie.”

“This tropical cyclone is also expected to exit the PAR region tomorrow evening or on Saturday early morning,” PAGASA said.

“Further intensification is forecast to occur throughout the forecast period. A peak intensity of 155 km/h may be reached on Saturday,” it added.

Habagat

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 or Habagat enhanced by Nanmadol will bring monsoon rains over the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the next 24 hours.

“The enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon may also bring gusty conditions reaching strong to gale-force strength, especially in coastal and mountainous/upland areas, over Visayas, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and the northern and western portions of Mindanao,” PAGASA added.

As of 10 p.m., the center of Nanmadol was located 1,600 km east northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and central pressure of 970 hPa while moving westward at 10 km/h.

Nanmadol may also bring strong to typhoon-force winds that extend outwards up to 760 km from the center.—LDF, GMA News