“Kiko”, the 11th tropical cyclone that developed within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and the first for the month of September, was last located at 345 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora. Classified as a Tropical Depression, it has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 65 kph.

Moving west-northwest at 15 kph, Kiko is expected to cross Extreme Northern Luzon tomorrow morning and may exit the PAR by evening. As of 8:00 AM today, Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 is still up over Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands.

Due to the Tropical Depression, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands will experience rains with gusty winds. Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains with thunderstorms will affect Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Abra and Kalinga.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and possible thunderstorms. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers will prevail in the rest of the archipelago.

PAGASA did not issue a gale warning but noted that sea travel is risky int he eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon. Coastal waters in these areas will be moderate to rough.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, the prevailing weather systems expected this month include Tropical Cyclones, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) and Hanging Habagat. These will bring rains and thunderstorms in the affected areas.

Mendoza added that the ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) may also affect the country, mostly during the absence of a weather disturbance. This will bring fair weather with a very slim chance of rain.

As we expect Tropical Depression (TD) Nona to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this weekend, TD Onyok crossed the PAR line yesterday afternoon. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier, it is forecast to make its landfall tomorrow afternoon or in the evening in the Caraga region. And as of 4:00 AM today, Onyok was last located at 700 kms. east-northeast of Mati City, Davao Oriental, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph. It moves westward at 15 kph.

Meanwhile, Nona remains stationary at its location of 60 kms. east of Iba, Zambales. Javier adds that it may continuously weaken into a Low Pressure Area (LPA) in the next 24 hours. Public Storm Warning Signal number 1 is still raised over Pangasinan and Zambales.

With the two (2) tropical cyclones inside our boundary, rains with gusty winds prevail in the areas with Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1. Meanwhile, moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected over Cagayn Valley, Cordillera, and the rest of Central Luzon and Ilocos Region, possibly triggering flash floods and landslides. Light to moderate rains are at expected over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Caraga and Davao Region. Fair weather conditions will be experienced in the rest of the archipelago.

Gale warning was raised in the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the western and eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. Because of the rough to very rough sea conditions, fisher folk and those with small seacraft are advised to avoid venturing into the said seaboards.

Typhoon Lando continuously gains strength in the East Philippine Sea with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 160 kilometers per hour. With its westward movement at 15 kilometers per hour, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio says it may hit Isabela tomorrow evening or Sunday morning. Lando is expected to bring heavy to intense rainfall within the 550-kilometer diameter of the typhoon, which includes Northern and Central Luzon.

PAGASA raised Public Storm Warning Signal Numbers 1 and 2 over several areas in Luzon. The weather bureau monitors the movement of Lando towards the landmass of the Isabela-Aurora areas, which was alerted against rains with gusty winds in the next few hours.

Aurelio added that the slow movement of Lando is caused by the Fujiwhara effect of Tropical Storm Champi, which was last located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Though Champi will not enter our boundary, as it moves northwards, it pulls Lando southwards. This causes Lando to stay longer in our boundary, possibly until Thursday.

Aurelio also said that this Sunday or Monday, a Ridge of High Pressure Area may block Lando from the West Philippine Sea, and may cause it to recurve northward.

Gale warning is still raised over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Visayas. Venturing into these rough to very rough sea conditions might be dangerous for fishing boats and other small seacraft.