Mindanao – Typhoon “Nando” (international name: Ragasa) continues to intensify as it moves northwestward over the Philippine Sea, while the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) brings widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms across Mindanao, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 5:00 a.m. forecast on Sunday, September 21.
As of 3:00 a.m., the typhoon’s center was estimated at 620 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. It packs maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 215 kph, moving northwestward at 15 kph. While the storm remains far from Mindanao, its trough and the prevailing Southwest Monsoon are bringing rains to many provinces.
Zamboanga Peninsula: Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Isabela City will continue to experience cloudy skies with rainshowers and thunderstorms throughout the day and night. Winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest, with coastal waters expected to be slight to moderate. Temperatures range between 23°C and 32°C.
Northern Mindanao: Provinces including Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental will have partly cloudy to occasionally cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Light to moderate southwest winds prevail, with slight to moderate seas. Daytime temperatures will reach up to 31°C, cooling to lows of 21°C to 25°C at night.
Davao Region: Metro Davao, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao Occidental will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the monsoon. Winds remain light to moderate, with slight to moderate coastal conditions. Temperatures may reach 34°C in Davao de Oro and Metro Davao during the day.
SOCCSKSARGEN: North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani will also have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Similar wind and sea conditions are expected, with highs of 32°C and lows of 22°C to 26°C.
Caraga Region: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers or thunderstorms. Coastal waters are forecast to be slight to moderate under light to moderate southwest winds. Daytime temperatures may rise to 34°C in Surigao del Sur.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMM): Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi will see cloudy skies with rainshowers and thunderstorms throughout the forecast period, while Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and Cotabato City will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Temperatures across BARMM will range from 21°C at night to 32°C in the day.
PAGASA advises residents, especially those in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, to stay alert for possible flash floods and landslides due to moderate to heavy rainfall from thunderstorms. Fisherfolk and those with small sea vessels are also cautioned to remain vigilant of sea conditions.
For more information and updates, the public is encouraged to visit PAGASA’s official website at bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph or call (632) 8922-1992 and 8927-1335.