Weather: 'Mina' intensifies further; incoming cyclone monitored

Severe Tropical Storm Mina (Nanmadol) intensified anew early Thursday and may stay until at least Tuesday, even as state weather forecasters monitor the possible entry of a tropical depression just outside Philippine territory. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Joel Jesusa said Thursday Mina is moving very slowly and may gain more strength. "Medyo marami ang implication nito. Mas mabagal siya sa lugar, mas lalakas, mas maraming iikot na hanging habagat, ang equivalent mas maraming ulan (Its slow movement has many implications. The longer it lingers, it can gain more strength and can enhance the southwest monsoon much more. This will mean much more rain)," Jesusa said in an interview on dzBB radio. This means rain over parts of the country, especially in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, including Metro Manila, he added. As of 4 a.m. Thursday, PAGASA said Mina was estimated at 390 km east of Casiguran, Aurora packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move north northwest slowly, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. No storm signals But Jesusa said no storm signals have been raised so far as Mina is still too far away to directly affect any part of the country. Jesusa also said they are monitoring a tropical depression interacting with Mina, just outside the Philippine area of responsibility. While he said their models do not indicate the tropical depression will enter Philippine territory, he said they are not discounting the possibility. "Sa nakikitang model natin hindi ito papasok, babaybay lang sa area na yan, halos north ang kilos niya dahil sa influence ng bagyo (From our models for now, the tropical depression is not likely to enter Philippine territory. It is likely to graze the Philippine area of responsibility and move north)," he said. But should the tropical depression enter Philippine territory, it will be locally codenamed "Nonoy." Until Tuesday In its Twitter account, PAGASA said its track shows Mina may remain in the Philippines until at least Tuesday. "According to our latest track Tuesday po (According to our latest track, it may stay in the Philippine area of responsibility until Tuesday)," it said. Also in its bulletin, PAGASA warned of flash floods in parts of the country. "Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will experience monsoon rains while the rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms with widespread rains over the eastern sections which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said. It added that moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over northern and Central Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the country. Gale warning Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale force winds associated with Mina may affect the eastern seaboard of northern and Central Luzon and the seaboards of southern Luzon and of the Visayas. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — RSJ, GMA News