PAGASA: 'Mina' intensifies; floods threaten east Luzon, Samar

Tropical storm "Mina" (Nanmadol) intensified anew but also slowed to a crawl due to a tropical cyclone just outside Philippine territory, state weather forecasters said Wednesday. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Elvie Enriquez said they could not immediately give an estimate on how long Mina will remain in Philippine territory. "Bagama't lalong lumakas at kumikilos pahilaga (si Mina), ibig sabihin palayo sa bansa, subali't napakabagal nito," she said in an interview on dzBB radio. She said Mina is interacting with a cyclone outside the Philippine area of responsibility. Enriquez said that while the second cyclone is not likely to enter the Philippines, it is slowing the exit of "Mina" from the Philippine area of responsibility. This may mean more monsoon rain over parts of the country, she said. "Baka matagalan si Mina dahil sa paghatak ng southwest monsoon na magdudulot sa bansa ng kaulapan at kalat kalat na pagulan at pagkidlat," she said. Flash floods, landslides As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, PAGASA said Mina was estimated at 370 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. "The whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the eastern section of Luzon and Northern Samar which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Meanwhile, PAGASA said more rain is expected over Metro Manila during the weekend due to the southwest monsoon. "Definitely, more rain over Metro Manila is expected this weekend. Southwest monsoon is expected until Monday," it said in its Twitter account. — LBG, GMA News