MANILA, Philippines — The slow-moving Nimfa (international name: Tapah) intensified into a tropical storm Thursday afternoon and would continue dumping rains over vast swaths of Luzon.
“Nimfa” developed into a tropical storm at 2 p.m., according to state weather bureau PAGASA.
The tropical storm was located 735 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes, moving almost stationary.
It now packs maximum sustained winds of 65 km per hour from the previous 55 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph from the previous 70 kph.
“Nimfa” is not seen to hit any part of the land and there are no areas under tropical cyclone wind signals.
But residents of Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Cagayan mainland, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya will experience frequent light to moderate with occasional heavy rains until Friday afternoon.
Those living in Metro Manila and Calabarzon will have occasional light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains.
Meanwhile, scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms will affect Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Calamian Islands, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Camarines provinces and Catanduanes.
Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon due to potentially rough to very rough sea conditions.
“Nimfa” is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning.
Forecast positions
- Friday afternoon: 605 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes
- Saturday afternoon: 820 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
- Sunday afternoon 1,535 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
— Gaea Katreena Cabico