Storm alert up

MANILA, Philippines - Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have strong winds and heavy rains beginning tomorrow due to tropical storm Rammasun, which was expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) last night.

Jori Loiz, senior weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the agency is looking at three scenarios for Rammasun, which will be named Glenda once it enters the PAR.

Rammasun’s path could go three ways as it moves west toward Luzon areas.

Loiz said the most likely scenario, based on current projections, is Rammasun making landfall on Aurora-Quezon area on Wednesday morning. It could also hit Isabela or the Bicol region.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of the storm was spotted at 1,150 kilometers east of Bicol with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

The storm, moving west at 23 kph, is expected to gather more strength as it crosses the Pacific Ocean.

Loiz said the storm is forecast to enter the PAR between 10 p.m. and 12 midnight, and it will start bringing rains over northern Luzon, eastern Visayas and Mindanao.

It is expected to move closer to Philippine landmass tonight, and rains may start affecting the entire country, particularly the western section of Luzon and Visayas due to the enhanced southwest monsoon, Loiz said.

Tomorrow, the storm will move closer to Bicol, bringing light to moderate rains over the northern part of eastern Samar, Panay Island and southern Negros.

The whole Bicol region will experience rains from the southwest monsoon by tomorrow evening, Loiz said.