PAGASA is closely monitoring the new Tropical Depression outside the Philippine boundary, last located at 1,425 kms. east-southeast of Mindanao. According to Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier, the weather disturbance is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this afternoon. Upon entering, it will be given the local name Onyok, the 15th cyclone for 2015.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Nona is now over the West Philippine Sea, and is expected to exit PAR by Friday. However, moderate to heavy rains are still possible within the 250-kilometer radius of the typhoon.
Today, stormy weather will be experienced in the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island, Northern Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, Batangas and Cavite, which will experience rough to very rough seas.
Rains with gusty winds are expected over Metro Manila, Pampanga, Southern Zambales, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, the Calamian Group of Islands, and the rest of Oriental Mindoro.
Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in Northern Luzon, while light to moderate rains will be experienced in the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.
Public Storm Warning Signals
Public Storm Warning Signals are still in effect in some areas.
Storm surges of up to 2 meters are possible along the coastal areas under Signals number 2 and 3.
Simbang Gabi starts today
The long-cherished Filipino Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi jumpstarts today. But take note, church-goers in Metro Manila: moderate to heavy rains are still possible due to Typhoon Nona.
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Typhoon Nona has weakened while moving towards Banton, Romblon. With maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gustiness of 170 kph, Nona moves west at 15 kph. According to PAGASA Weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio, Nona is expected to leave the Philippine landmass today, and the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday. Meanwhile, another low pressure area (LPA) was located east outside PAR. Watch the full interview here: Panahon TV interview with PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio
Today, stormy weather will be experienced in Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Southern Quezon, Batangas and the islands of Calamian, Burias and Lubang with rough to very rough sea conditions.
Rains with gusty winds are expected over Metro Manila, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Masbate including Ticao island, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and the rest of Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Bataan and Bulacan.
Cloudy skies with light rains are expected in Batanes, including Calayan and the Babuyan Group of Islands, while light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in the rest of the country.
Public Storm Warning Signals
Flash floods and landslides are expected in the areas under signals number 2 and 3. Storm surges may reach a maximum of 3 meters. Open sea wave height in areas under signal #1 may reach 1.25 to 4.0 meters.
#walangpasok | #NonaPH
Classes in these areas are suspended today, December 15, 2015 due to typhoon Nona.
Despite the busy days of preparing for the Christmas celebration, PAGASA alerts the public to monitor the weather as well. At 7:00AM today, the eye of typhoon “Nona” was last spotted at 135 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. Packing winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 185 kilometers per hour, Nona is expected to move west at 17 kilometers per hour.
If Nona maintains speed and direction, it will possibly be at its closest distance to Northern Samar by early afternoon today. The typhoon will then make landfall over Sorsogon early tonight. After hitting the landmass, it will cross Albay province and may head towards Burias Island.
As Nona approaches the land, more areas were put under Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS).
Areas under Signal Numbers 3 and 2 are alerted against possible flash floods, landslides and storm surges of up to 4 meters.
Residents of Samar provinces, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Leyte, Masbate, Romblon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon and the islands of Ticao, Biliran and Burias must prepare for stormy weather with rough to very rough sea condition. Rains with gusty winds are expected over Metro Manila, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan, Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, the rest of Quezon, Dinagat and the islands of Bantayan, Camotes, Lubang, Polillo and Siargao.
Meanwhile, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and gusty winds may be experienced over the rest of Visayas and Mindanao, while Cagayan Valley may have light rains due to the “Amihan”. The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.
Gale Warning is also up over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are not allowed to venture into the sea as rough to very rough sea conditions with wave height reaching 4.5 meters may be observed.
Meanwhile, another weather disturbance was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). According to PAGASA, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) is still too far to affect the country.