‘Gorio’ intensifies into a typhoon

Brace for a stormy Saturday over Luzon as “Gorio” (international name: Nesat) has intensified into a typhoon, bringing rains to the northernmost parts of the country.

The typhoon is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon (“habagat”), which has been bringing rains to the rest of Luzon for the past week, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

In a media briefing at 5 p.m. on Friday, Pagasa said storm signal No. 2 has been hoisted over Batanes province and No. 1 in the Babuyan group of islands due to the typhoon. Gorio was located at 300 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour, and gustiness of up to 145 kph.

But it’s still the habagat that is bringing cloudy skies and rains to the rest of Luzon, said Pagasa forecaster Aldczar Aurelio. Visayas and Mindanao are expected to have fairer weather over the weekend.

“Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms are expected over the rest of Luzon,” Aurelio said. “Monsoon rains are expected to continue over Metro Manila, Ilocos region, central Luzon, Mimaropa, and Calabarzon.”

Aurelio warned of possible flash floods and landslides over the monsoon-affected areas.

“Improved weather is expected by Sunday over areas affected by the monsoon,” Aurelio said.

Gorio is expected to intensify as it moves northwest to Taiwan at 15 kph, but is not expected to make landfall in any part of the Philippines.

After it exits the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression.