(Eagle News Service) — Gorio intensified into a typhoon on Friday, as it moved toward Taiwan and continued to enhance the southwest monsoon, triggering rains over parts of the country.
Signal Number 2 has been raised over Batanes, and Signal Number 1 over the Babuyan Group of Islands, where rains and maximum sustained winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour are expected in 36 hours.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services said monsoon rains are still expected over Metro Manila, Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Mimaropa and Calabarzon.
Light to moderate rains, and thunderstorms are expected over the rest of Luzon.
A gale warning has been hoisted over the seaboards of northern Luzon and the western seaboard of central Luzon, which means small boats should not venture into the sea in those areas.
The tropical depression Pagasa said it was also monitoring has been spotted 600 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, but it is still not expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Pagasa said the weather is expected to improve on Sunday, when Gorio is forecast to leave PAR for Taiwan.