MANILA, Philippines — Weather disturbance “Nimfa” has intensified into a tropical storm, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.
In a severe weather bulletin, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tropical Depression Nimfa turned into a tropical storm at around 2 p.m.
At 4 p.m., Nimfa was last spotted at 735 kilometers (km) east of Basco, Batanes. The weather disturbance is packing maximum sustained winds of up to 65 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Pagasa said “frequent to moderate with occasional heavy rains” will persist over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Cagayan mainland, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya.
Meanwhile, occasional light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila and Calabarzon.
Pagasa also said that scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms will affect Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Calamian Islands, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Camarines province, and Catanduanes.
Pagasa also noted that Nimfa could leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning, Sept. 21. /je