‘Helen’ brings rain as it nears northern Luzon

Severe tropical storm “Helen” entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, with the weather bureau warning of cloudy skies and light to moderate rains.

Moving at 25 kilometers per hour in a west northwest direction, Helen (international name: Megi) is packing maximum sustained winds of up to 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(Pagasa) said.

As of Saturday afternoon, Helen was located at 1,390 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, it said.

It is forecast to be 840 km east of Basco, Batanes, by Sunday afternoon, and 340 km east northeast of Basco the following day.

No tropical cyclone warning signals have been raised, Pagasa said, but it noted that Helen is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains within its 600-km diameter.

Pagasa said that Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol, the Visayas and Mindanao are expected to experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. Metro Manila, meanwhile, and the rest of the country will experience light rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Waters in Luzon’s northeast and northwest coasts are expected to be moderate to rough, with strong winds expected to whip the area, Pagasa said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said the government’s assistance for Typhoon “Ferdie” survivors in the northernmost province of Batanes would continue even as preparations were underway for the approaching Helen.