‘Cosme’ gains strength, more rains in Metro--PAGASA
Storm signals up over northern Luzon
By Joel Guinto, Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:23:00 05/16/2008
Filed Under: Weather
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 2) Tropical storm "Cosme" (international codename: Halong) strengthened further as it moved slowly towards northern Luzon late Friday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
As of 5 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Cosme had gained strength, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph. It was last seen 240 kilometers (km) west southwest of Iba, Zambales.
Public storm signal number 1 has been raised in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao Benguet, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Aba, La Union, and Ilocos Sur, PAGASA said.
Moving northeast at nine kilometers per hour, the storm was forecast to be at 100 kilometers southwest of Dagupan City in Pangasinan province by Saturday evening, 70 kilometers east of Aparri town, Cagayan province by Sunday afternoon, and 590 kilometers northeast of Basco town in Batanes province by Monday afternoon.
Residents in low lying areas were warned against flash floods while those in coastal areas were warned against big waves, the bureau said.
Meanwhile, tropical storm "Dindo" exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 12 noon, PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo said.
It was last seen 680 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes and with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. The storm was moving northeast at 30 kph.
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