MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Nona (international name Melor) has slightly weakened but a new tropical cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
The low pressure area over the Pacific has strengthened into a tropical depression. It was located 1,425 kilometers east southeast of Mindanao.
It will be called Onyok once it enters the PAR by Wednesday afternoon or evening. PAGASA warned that the new weather disturbance has a high chance of making landfall.
"'Yung track nung bagyong paparating, track din ni 'Nona' pero pababa at may chance din lumakas dahil nasa dagat pa," PAGASA weather forecaster Lorie Dela Cruz said.
LIVE updates: Tropical cyclone 'Nona'
Forecast track of Typhoon Nona as of Wednesday, 7 a.m. PAGASA
At 4 a.m., Nona was located 125 kilometers west northwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro packing maximum winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 160 kph. It is likely to move west northwest at 9 kph.
Nona will continue to bring rains with gusty winds as it moves slowly due to the interaction with landmass after making five consecutive landfalls.
Public storm warning signals are still raised in the following areas:
Signal No. 3 (121-170 kph expected in 18 hrs.)
- Northern Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
Signal No. 2 (61-120 kph expected in 24 hrs.)
- Bataan
- Batangas
- Cavite
- Northern Oriental Mindoro
- Rest of Occidental Mindoro
Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph expected in 36 hrs.)
- Metro Manila
- Pampanga
- Southern Zambales
- Bulacan
- Laguna
- Calamian group of Islands
- Rest of Oriental Mindoro
The estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 250-kilometer diameter of the typhoon.
The provinces of Mindoro, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan and Metro Manila may experience flash floods and landslides.
Nona is expected to exit the PAR by Friday.