Nando strengthens into tropical storm over Philippine Sea

Contents

Tropical Storm Nando (Ragasa) has most sustained winds of 65 km/h as of Thursday night, September 18

MANILA, Philippines – Nando intensified from a tropical despair right into a tropical storm over the Philippine Sea at 8 pm on Thursday, September 18.

Its most sustained winds elevated from 55 kilometers per hour to 65 km/h, stated the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Companies Administration (PAGASA) in a bulletin launched at 11 pm. Its gustiness is now as much as 80 km/h from the earlier 70 km/h.

Since Nando is now a tropical storm, it has been given a world identify: Ragasa. This identify, which refers to a surge or a “sudden quickening of motion,” occurs to be contributed by the Philippines.

Nando is projected to strengthen additional right into a extreme tropical storm on Friday, September 19, and right into a hurricane on Saturday, September 20.

PAGASA can be not ruling out the opportunity of Nando intensifying into a brilliant hurricane whereas crossing excessive Northern Luzon.

As of 10 pm on Thursday, the tropical storm was situated 1,175 kilometers east of Central Luzon, slowly shifting west northwest. Given its present distance from land, Nando just isn’t but affecting climate and sea circumstances within the nation.

PAGASA stated Nando will head west northwest to west within the subsequent 24 hours, then “transfer in a loop sample” earlier than turning usually northwest to west northwest from Friday night till Sunday night, September 21.

“Afterwards, it’s forecast to maneuver westward whereas approaching excessive Northern Luzon,” added the climate bureau.

Nando and the southwest monsoon or habagat — which the tropical cyclone would possibly improve — could begin bringing heavy rain by Sunday or Monday, September 22.

Sign No. 1 may be raised in Northern Luzon as early as Saturday, to present affected areas 36 hours to arrange for robust winds from Nando. Sign No. 5, the best tropical cyclone wind sign, is likely to be raised if Nando turns into a brilliant hurricane.

Additionally as early as Saturday, storm surge warnings could also be issued in Northern Luzon.

PAGASA added that almost all of Luzon’s coastal waters are more likely to be average to tough starting Sunday. And, as Nando approaches excessive Northern Luzon, waves is likely to be as excessive as 14 meters.

Nando might move near or make landfall in Cagayan province’s Babuyan Islands between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, September 23.

It could depart the Philippine Space of Duty (PAR) by Tuesday afternoon or night.

Nando is the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2025, and the fourth for September. It follows Mirasol, which left PAR as a tropical despair at 6 am on Thursday, then strengthened right into a tropical storm just a few hours later.

Mirasol’s worldwide identify is Mitag — contributed by Micronesia and referring to a lady’s identify.

The tropical storm was final noticed 540 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes, at 10 pm on Thursday. It’s shifting north northwest at 10 km/h.

Like Nando, Mirasol now has most sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of as much as 80 km/h.

PAGASA Climate Specialist Loriedin de la Cruz stated late Thursday night that Mirasol’s trough or extension should trigger scattered rain in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and components of Ilocos Sur within the coming hours.

ALSO ON RAPPLER

Southwest monsoon

In the meantime, the southwest monsoon can be affecting Central Luzon and Southern Luzon, in addition to the western parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Scattered rain and thunderstorms are anticipated in Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Area, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Remoted rain showers or thunderstorms are probably in the remainder of Central Luzon, the remainder of Calabarzon, and Bicol.

The southwest monsoon is bringing robust to gale-force gusts to those areas, too:

Friday, September 19