‘Gorio’ now a storm; habagat stronger

“Gorio” has intensified into a tropical storm and slightly slowed down midday Wednesday, the state weather bureau said.

The tropical cyclone was last spotted 595 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Gorio moved in a north northwest direction at 13 kph.

While no storm signals were raised, it will enhance the southwest monsoon.

The enhanced habagat will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain over the western section of Luzon and light to moderate rain over the rest of Luzon and the Visayas.

Moderate to heavy rain prevails within the 400 km diameter of the storm. CBB