(Eagle News) — Severe Tropical Storm Gorio continued to intensify on Friday, as it headed northwest and enhanced the southwest monsoon that triggered rains in parts of the country.
In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Gorio was now packing maximum winds of 105 kilometers per hour, with a gust of 130 kph, prompting a gale warning to be hoisted over the northern and central seaboards of Luzon.
This means fishermen are no longer allowed to go into the sea in those areas.
Gorio–which is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday— is now located 545 kilometers east northeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, or 460 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, where Signal Num. 1 was still in place.
This means that residents there should expect occasional winds and rains.
In Luzon, moderate to heavy rains are expected in Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Region, Mimaropa, and Calabarzon, which can result in landslides and flooding.
“Sa Kabisayaan, inaasahan pa rin nating magkaroon ng maulap na kalangitan na may mahinang pag-ulan hanggang sa katamtaman, pati pagkulog at pagkidlat,” Meno Mendoza, Pagasa weather forecaster, said.
He said in Mindanao, occasional rains could also be expected.