Metro Manila under Signal 2 as 'Pedring' gains strength

At least eight areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 3 as Typhoon Pedring (Nesat) intensified further Monday afternoon and is expected to make landfall over Aurora province before dawn Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said 14 areas — including Metro Manila — were under Storm Signal No. 2 while 19 areas are under Signal No. 1. According to Department of Education guidelines, high school and elementary classes in areas under signal no. 2 are automatically suspended. Pagasa estimated 15 to 25 mm per hour of rainfall within the 650-km diameter of Pedring, which covers a wide swathe of the northern Philippines. "Northern and Central Luzon and the Bicol Region will experience stormy weather while the rest of southern Luzon will have rains with gusty winds. [The] Visayas will experience monsoon rains while the rest of the country will be cloudy with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. In its advisory, PAGASA said Pedring was estimated at 260 km east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of 4 p.m, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. Pedring was forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph and is expected to make landfall over Casiguran, Aurora early Tuesday morning. It is expected to be in the vicinity of Baguio City Tuesday afternoon. The typhoon is expected to hit land in rice- and corn-growing provinces of Aurora and Isabela in the north on Tuesday, crossing mountain regions before exiting via the northwestern Ilocos provinces, weather forecaster Robert Sawi told reporters. "Almost all parts of Luzon will experience rains, with weather conditions to worsen," he said, estimating heavy rainfall due to the prevailing monsoon. Graciano Yumul, head of the weather bureau, said 25 mm per hour of rainfall was expected, less than half the amount dumped in 2009 by Ketsana, which submerged large parts of the capital, killing hundreds of people. Storm signals Areas under Storm Signal No. 3 are: