Metro Manila, Philippines – With the north still to recover from the destruction caused by Super Typhoon Nando, the weather bureau has spotted a new storm that may traverse a lower track and bring more rains in the coming days coupled with the enhanced southwest monsoon.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin on Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Depression Opong will move southwest as it approaches Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon.
The weather bureau said the enhanced southwest monsoon will dump occasional rains in La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Occidental Mindoro. It is also triggering scattered rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.PAGASA said “Opong” may intensify into a severe tropical storm on Thursday, Sept. 25. It added that the cyclone will pass close or hit Northern Samar on Friday, Sept. 26, and cross southern Luzon on Friday evening or on Saturday, Sept. 27.The storm has sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 70 kph, but could potentially strengthen while still at sea.PAGASA said the lowest storm alert may be raised in Eastern Visayas and the Bicol region on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Storm alert
Meanwhile, 13 areas in Luzon are still under Signal 1 even as “Nando” (international name: Ragasa) moves farther away from the country.Areas under the lowest storm alert are: Batanes, Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northwestern portion of Pangasinan.
Transmission lines
In a related development, service in power transmission lines in northern Luzon have been restored, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said Tuesday afternoon.The National Electrification Administration said around 746,000 households encountered power interruptions.The Department of Energy said that restoration works are still ongoing in off-grid areas, including the Basco Diesel Power Plant in Batanes.
