The gathering storm on Pope Francis 4rth day in PH

MANILA, Jan. 18 – As the Papal Visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines nears its end gathering the faithful into unity, nature is also gathering storm.

The state weather agency PAGASA on Sunday advised the public who will attend events of Pope Francis at the Rizal Park and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila to bring raingear as Metro Manila is now under public storm signal number 1.

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PAGASA forecaster Meno Mendoza said Metro Manila will be rainy with gusty winds due to tropical Storm “Amang” that has maintained its strength and is now moving towards Sorsogon.

As of 7 am, the tropical storm was located at 25 km southwest of Virac, Catanduanes (13.5°N, 124.1°E), packed with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move northwest at 15 kph.

With its speed and movement, it will recurve towards the Bicol region and upward to Northern Luzon. But it is expected to weaken due to the presence of the northeast monsoon.

Areas under Storm Signal No. 2 (Winds of 61-100 kilometers per hour expected in at least 24 hours) are Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon including Polillo island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Airora, Marinduque, Burias island including Ticao island in Luzon and Northern Samar, northern part of Eastern Samar and northern part of Samar.

These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents along coastal areas are alerted against possible storm surges of less than two meters.

On the other hand, public storm warning Signal No. 1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours) is hoisted over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Ifugao, Quirino, Isabela, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon in Luzon; Rest of Samar, Rest of Eastern Samar and Biliran in the Visayas.

These areas will have occasional rains with occasional gusty winds.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy – intense) within the 350 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.

Ocean waves may reach up to 6.5 meters within the 350 km diameter of the storm.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out to the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, public storm warning signals elsewhere are now lifted.

For Sunday forecast, PAGASA said Bicol Region and the provinces of Samar, Quezon and Aurora will be stormy with rough to very rough seas.

Metro Manila, the rest of Calabarzon and the provinces of Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon will have rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

Western Visayas and the province of Leyte will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains while the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies. Thunderstorms are likely to occur over these areas.

The rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with light rains.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over the rest of Luzon and northwest to southwest over the rest of the country with moderate to rough seas. (PNA)

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