Weather: 'Mina' intensifies further, moves closer to north Luzon

Typhoon Mina (Nanmadol) intensified further as it continued to move closer towards northern Luzon early Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. In a radio interview, PAGASA forecaster Mario Palafox said Mina is expected to leave Philippine territory Tuesday afternoon, even as it continues to interact with another cyclone just outside Philippine territory. "Inaasahan natin [na sa] Martes ng hapon ito lalabas ng Philippine area of responsibility (We expect it to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday afternoon)," Palafox said in an interview on dzBB radio. PAGASA said Isabela, Cagayan, Aurora, Apayao, Kalinga, Quirino, Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan group of islands will experience stormy weather. On the other hand, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija will have rains with gusty winds, it added.

Location As of 4 a.m., PAGASA estimated Mina to be at 170 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It said Mina is forecast to move northwest at 9 kph and is expected to be 100 km northeast of Tuguegarao City Saturday morning. By Sunday morning, it is expected to be 40 km south southeast of Basco, Batanes and by Monday morning, it is expected to be 190 km north of Basco, Batanes. For his part, Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said their models indicate Mina may head for Taiwan, but is still likely to intensify further. Yumul said Mina appeared to separate from Talas, a tropical cyclone just outside the Philippine area of responsibility. The two cyclones had interacted in past days. "Lahat na model nagpapakita na si ‘Mina’ tatama ng Taiwan at si ‘Talas’ tatama ng Japan (Our models show ‘Mina’ may head for Taiwan while ‘Talas’ may head for Japan)," Yumul said in a separate interview on dzRH radio. "Inaasahan natin sa numerical model, lalakas pa itong si ‘Mina’ (Based on our numerical models, we expect ‘Mina’ to intensify further)," he added. Storm signals Areas under Storm Signal No. 3 include:

Isabela

Cagayan

Northern Aurora Those under Signal No. 2 include:

Batanes

Calayan

Babuyan Islands

Apayao

Kalinga

Quirino

Rest of Aurora Meanwhile, areas under Storm Signal No. 1 include:

Ilocos Norte

Abra

Ilocos Sur

Mt. Province

Benguet

Ifugao

Nueva Vizcaya

Nueva Ecija PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals, as well as in southern Luzon and the Visayas, to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. The estimated rainfall from the 600-km diameter of Mina is at 15 to 25 mm per hour. Gale warning The weather bureau said strong to gale-force winds associated with Mina are expected to affect the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and the seaboards of southern Luzon and 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