Weather: Gale warning up as 'Ma-on' nears PHL

The state weather bureau raised a gale warning over the eastern seaboard of Luzon as typhoon “Ma-on" neared Philippine territory Saturday afternoon. “Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. The bureau said “Ma-on" was spotted some 1,440 km east of extreme North Luzon as of 4 p.m. “[It packs] maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph. It is forecast to move west-northwest at 15 kph," PAGASA said. It noted “Ma-on" is likely to pass through Philippine territory Sunday. Once it enters the Philippines, it will be locally codenamed “Ineng." Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will experience “mostly cloudy" skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, according to PAGASA. The rest of the country will experience “partly cloudy to cloudy" skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, it added. PAGASA said “moderate to strong" winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Luzon. Winds coming from the northwest will reign over Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao, it added. The coastal waters along these areas will be “moderate to rough," according to the state weather bureau. Elsewhere, winds coming from the southwest to west will be “light to moderate," with “slight to moderate" seas. — JE, GMA News