9 areas under storm signals as 'Pedring' nears north PHL

(Updated 8:49 p.m.) At least nine areas were placed under storm signals - one of them under Signal No. 2 - as Tropical Storm Pedring (Nesat) intensified further and accelerated towards he Isabela-Auroral area Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also hinted Pedring may affect Metro Manila by Monday evening. In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Pedring was about 460 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. PAGASA said Pedring is forecast to move west at 28 kph and be 190 km east of Baler, Aurora Monday afternoon. By Tuesday afternoon, it is expected to be 140 km west-northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur; and 510 km northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur or at 540 km west of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday afternoon.
Placed under Storm Signal No. 2 was Catanduanes. Areas under Storm Signal No. 1 were:

• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Albay
• Burias Island
• Sorsogon
• Quezon
• Polillo Island
• Aurora

PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. In Albay, classes have been suspended for Monday, according to a report on GMA News' "24 Oras" on Sunday. PAGASA estimated about 10 to 20 mm per hour of rainfall within the 600-km diameter of Pedring. "Catanduanes will experience stormy weather while Quezon provinces, Aurora and the rest of Bicol region will have rains with gusty winds. The rest of the country will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin 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 and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough, it added. NCR to be affected; Leyte feeling 'effects' On its Twitter account, PAGASA said "Pedring" may affect Metro Manila by Monday evening, even as it may hit Aurora-Isabela. "Bukas po ay magiging maulan sa NCR (It may be rainy in Metro Manila on Monday)," it said. It added there is a possibility storm signals may be raised in Metro Manila. PAGASA also said "Pedring" may already be making itself felt indirectly in parts of Leyte, with strong winds and rain. "Indirect effect ni Pedring kaya maulan diyan..inaasahan na maulan at may malakas na hangin (It is an indirect effect of 'Pedring' and expect rain and strong winds)," it said in reply to a resident who reported the rain and winds. Also, it said "Pedring" may be felt in Bicol as early as Sunday night. — LBG, GMA News