Nimfa now a tropical storm

The low pressure area earlier spotted off Tarlac has merged with Nimfa, which has intensified into a tropical storm at 2 p.m. Thursday  

The weather condition is expected to bring light to heavy rains in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon, according to the 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin of PAGASA.

The center of the tropical storm is located at 735 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes, a report by GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz on GMA's 24 Oras said.

Between Thursday afternoon and Friday, frequent light to moderate with occasional heavy rains will be experienced over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Cagayan mainland, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

Occasional light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila and CALABARZON.

Meanwhile, scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms will affect Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Calamian Islands, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Camarines Provinces and Catanduanes.

The state weather bureau warned residents of the mentioned areas to coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices and continue monitoring for updates.  

PAGASA added that sea travel is risky, especially for small seacrafts, over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon due to potentially rough to very rough sea conditions.

Nimfa is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning, September 21.

As of 4:00 p.m., the center of tropical storm was estimated at 735 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes.

It is moving almost stationary with a maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. —LDF, GMA News