Signal No. 1 up over 7 provinces

Pagasa’s Doppler radars show vast cloud affecting areas in and around Metro Manila Monday morning as a tropical depression near the country.

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical depression “Helen” has intensified into a storm with stronger winds and faster speed causing several provinces to be placed under storm signal number 1.

Storm signal number 1 was raised over Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Cagayan, Babuyan, Calayan, and Batanes groups of islands, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest report on Monday.

“Tropical Storm “Helen” is expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon and Visayas especially over the western section,” Pagasa said.

Pagasa recorded maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

Its speed increased to 13 kph and still moving West Northwest towards northern Luzon.

As of 10 am, it was seen 550 km East Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, Pagasa said.

“Estimated rainfall amount is from 15 – 35 mm per hour (heavy – torrential) within 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm,” Pagasa said.

“Intermittent light to moderate rains (2.5 – 7.5 mm/hr) are now affecting Central and Southern Luzon becoming more frequent moderate to heavy rains (7.5 – 10.0 mm/hr) during the latter part of the day towards the evening over Camarines provinces, Quezon province, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales and Metro Manila,” it said.

 Originally posted at 11:38 am | Monday, Aug. 13, 2012