'Gardo' maintains strength, set to exit PAR Friday
MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Gardo (international name: Higos) maintained its strength Friday morning as it moved north-northwestward over the Philippine Sea.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Friday, June 26, state weather bureau PAGASA said Gardo was located 1,280 kilometers east northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon.
The severe tropical storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph, with a central pressure of 990 hPa.
It was moving north-northwestward at 25 kph.
Strong winds, rains. Despite Gardo's distance from the country, the southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts over most of Luzon on Friday.
On Saturday, these strong winds are expected to affect Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
PAGASA also advised the public to refer to its separate weather advisory for the heavy rainfall outlook due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Sea conditions. Rough seas with waves reaching up to 3 meters are expected over the seaboard of Batanes.
PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft, including all types of motorbancas, not to venture out to sea, especially if they are inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels.
Moderate seas with waves of up to 2.5 meters are forecast over the northern and western seaboards of the Babuyan Islands and the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte.
Meanwhile, waves of up to 2 meters are expected over the remaining seaboards of the Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte, as well as the seaboards of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, Lubang Island, Kalayaan Islands, and the western seaboards of Pangasinan, Bataan and Batangas.
Track. PAGASA said Gardo is expected to continue moving generally northward and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday morning or by noon.
The weather bureau said Gardo is forecast to weaken into a tropical storm later in the afternoon, although it may still maintain severe tropical storm strength within the next 12 hours.
PAGASA also reminded the public that heavy rainfall and strong winds may still affect areas outside the forecast confidence cone due to the southwest monsoon.
- Latest
- Trending
