‘Pedring’ now a typhoon–Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines- Tropical Storm Pedring (international name: Nesat) has strengthened into a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday.

PAGASA-DOST MTSAT-EIR Satellite Image for 1 p.m., 26 September 2011 . Inset pic shows Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul pointing the track of Typhoon Pedring (international name: Nesat) which was estimated to make landfall in Aurora Province Tuesday morning. MATIKAS SANTOS/INQUIRER.net

Pedring was estimated to be at 350 kilometers east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora and was still moving slowly west northwest at 17 kilometers per hour, Pagasa said during a press conference shortly before noon.

Winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph are expected, according to Pagaasa.

Signal No. 2 has been raised in Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay (including Burias Island), Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon Province (including Polilio Island), Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Ifugao and Cagayan.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 has been declared in Metro Manila, Masbate, Ticao Island, Marinduque, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Calayan and Babuyan group of islands and Northern Samar.

Pedring is estimated to make landfall in Casiguran, Aurora at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Although the estimated rainfall from Pedring was 15-25 millimeters per hour, far from the amount of water dumped by Typhoon Ondoy which was a combination of Monsoon and tropical storm rains, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) undersecretary Graciano Yumul still urged the public to be prepared and to constantly monitor Pagasa’s weather updates.

Robert Sawi, Pagasa’s chief weather forecaster, has alerted the public to possible, landslides, flash floods, strong winds, storm surges and tornadoes.

Pagasa Administrator Nathaniel Servando also announced the suspension of afternoon classes in the elementary and highschool levels in Metro Manila.

Sawi said that Pedring was expected to exit the country through the Ilocos region Wednesday night.