‘Cosme,’ ‘Dindo’ threaten Luzon, Western Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Cyclones "Cosme" and "Dindo" have intensified into tropical storms and continued to threaten Luzon and Western Visayas early Friday morning. State weather forecasters said "Cosme" and "Dindo" may bring rains that can trigger landslides and flash floods over coastal areas in Luzon and Western Visayas. "Tropical storms 'Cosme' and 'Dindo' will enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Luzon and Western Visayas. Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flash floods and landslides," the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 a.m. advisory. It added residents along the coastal areas of Luzon and Western Visayas are alerted against big waves generated by these tropical cyclones. Placed under storm signal 1 were Northern Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, and Lubang Island. As of 4 a.m., Pagasa said "Cosme" was 395 kilometers west of Calapan City and packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kilometers per hour. "Cosme" was moving north at 7 kph and was forecast to be 410 km west norhwest of Calapan City or 240 km west of Iba, Zambales Saturday morning. On Sunday morning it is forecast to be 245 km northwest of Iba, Zambales. By Monday morning it is expected to be 90 km north of Laoag City. "Dindo" was estimated as of 2 a.m. at 680 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. "Dindo" was forecast to move northeast at 30 kph. Pagasa said Northern Palawan and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island will experience rains and gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. "The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over the western and eastern sections of Northern and Central Luzon, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said. The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the Southwest over Southern Luzon and Visayas with moderate to rough seas. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the Southwest and South with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms. - GMANews.TV