Pagasa lifts Metro Manila storm warning

Residents huddle together under their umbrellas as strong winds and slight rain are brought by Typhoon Koppu Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. AP

Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) kept its slow pace midday Monday as it continued to head towards the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Abra and Apayao.

The typhoon was tracked 20 kilometers west of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur at 5 kilometers per hour north northeast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

As Lando crawled northward, the Pagasa lifted the storm warning for Metro Manila.

Storm Signal No. 2 was raised over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet and Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands. Stormy weather will still continue in these areas.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Isabela and Batanes. These areas will have occasional rain and gusty winds.

Pagasa warned of possible storm surges of up to two meters in the provinces affected by the typhoon.

Lando maintained its maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph.

The typhoon hit Aurora early Sunday and has weakened but it was moving slowly due to a high pressure area and another typhoon outside the Philippine area of responsibility.