Signal No. 3 in 5 areas as Super Typhoon Nando intensifies

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over five areas in northern Luzon on Sunday evening as Super Typhoon Nando continued to intensify, PAGASA said.

In its 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the state weather bureau said that Nando (international name: Ragasa) is continuing to intensify as it moves west-northwest.

As of 10 p.m., the center of Nando's eye was estimated to be 350 kilometers east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, or 360 km east of Calayan, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 250 km/h, and a central pressure of 915 hPa.

It is moving west-northwest at 15 km/h, with "strong to typhoon-force winds" extending as much as
600 km from the center. 

Signal No. 3 is up over the following areas:

• Batanes,
• Babuyan Islands,
• the northern and central portions of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Alcala, Santo Niño, Lasam, Allacapan, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Rizal) ,
• the northern and central portions of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Pudtol, Luna, Calanasan, Kabugao) and
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Carasi, Piddig, Vintar, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Burgos, Bangui, Dumalneg, Pagudpud, Adams)

Signal No. 2 is up over:

• The rest of Cagayan,
• the northern and central portions of Isabela (San Mariano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Quirino, Mallig, Gamu, Burgos, Dinapigue, Roxas, San Manuel, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, City of Cauayan, Alicia, Angadanan, San Guillermo),
• the rest of Apayao,
• Abra,
• Kalinga,
• the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin, Barlig, Sadanga, Bontoc, Besao, Sagada),
• the eastern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo),
• the rest of Ilocos Norte, and
• the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa, Nagbukel, Narvacan, Santa Maria, San Emilio, Burgos, Santiago, San Esteban, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Quirino)

Signal No. 1 is up over:

• The rest of Isabela,
• Quirino,
• Nueva Vizcaya,
• the rest of Mountain Province,
• the rest of Ifugao,
• Benguet,
• the rest of Ilocos Sur,
• La Union,
• Pangasinan,
• Aurora,
• Nueva Ecija,
• Bulacan,
• Tarlac,
• Pampanga,
• Zambales, and
• the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar) including Polillo Islands 

Several local governments have already suspended classes for Monday, while Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro urged people attending the September 21 rallies against corruption to disperse early in anticipation of Nando's effects.

PAGASA added that the Habagat or Southwest Monsoon and Nando's trough are expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts, especially in coastal or upland areas, to Metro Manila, Central Luzon (areas not under wind signal), Calabarzon, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, and Davao Region on Sunday evening; and to Metro Manila, Central Luzon (areas not under wind signal), Calabarzon, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Davao Region on Monday.

Nando is forecast to continue its general westward path on Monday towards the Babuyan Islands, where its center "may pass close or may make landfall" Monday later morning or early afternoon. — BM, GMA Integrated News