Lando enters PAR, to bring rains over Luzon, Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm Lando (international name Koppu) entered the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, bringing rains over the eastern parts of Luzon and the Visayas, the state weather bureau said.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Lando was spotted at 1,410 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It was forecast to move westward at 22 kph.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration weather forecaster Shaira Nonot said the outer spiral of the storm started to bring light to moderate rains over Bicol, Aurora, Quezon and Samar.

Nonot said the weather bureau was looking at two scenarios for Lando.

“One is it may make landfall over eastern Luzon, particularly Cagayan-Isabela area on Saturday or Sunday, and the other scenario is it may pass near extreme Northern Luzon,” she said.

Lando will likely intensify into a typhoon before hitting landmass, Nonot said.

The weather bureau said the storm would bring light to moderate rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and the Visayas until Saturday.

Lando is expected to be at 990 kilometers east of Luzon this morning.