MANILA — “Gorio” has intensified into a tropical storm (TS) as it slightly slowed down while heading in a north-northwest direction at 13 kph, state weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
No tropical cyclone warning signal was raised as of Wednesday afternoon.
TS “Gorio” was last spotted at 595 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 65 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 400 km diameter of the storm.
According to PAGASA, “Gorio” enhances southwest monsoon which causes moderate to occasionally heavy rains over the western part of Luzon, and light to moderate rains over the rest of Luzon and Visayas.
As of Wednesday afternoon, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon will bring heavy rains over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan and Tarlac.
“There may be flooding in low lying areas,” the agency cited.
Light to moderate occasional heavy rains, meanwhile, is expected over Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and portions of Quezon. This may last until 4 p.m. Wednesday, PAGASA said. Ma. Cristina C. Arayata/PNA-northboundasia.com