'Isang' continues to intensify, brings heavy rains over Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm “Isang” continued to intensify on Monday morning as it continued to slice through a group of small islands north of Luzon.

In a severe weather bulletin issued at 11 in the morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that Isang packed maximum sustained winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 97 kph.

This was stronger than the strength reported by the weather agency early Monday when it reported that weather system had maximum sustained winds of up to 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

“At 10:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm ‘Isang’ was estimated based on all available data at 275 km east of Basco Batanes,” the weather agency said in its latest bulletin.

Batanes Group of Islands continues to be under Storm Signal No. 2, which means that the areas under it may experience winds between 61 to 120 kph in the next 24 hours.

Under Signal No. 2, winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities, according to PAGASA. The weather agency added that a wave height of between 4.1 to 14 meters may be experienced in open seas under Signal No. 2.

PAGASA meanwhile placed the Babuyan Group of Islands under Signal No. 1, and wave height was expected to be between 1.25 to 4 meters in open seas.

Under Signal No. 1, there could be very light to no damage to low-risk structures ad light damage to medium to high-risk structures.

Slight damage to house made of light materials can also be recorded while rice crops especially those on the flowering stage may suffer significant damage.

According to PAGASA, the weather system is expected to bring light to moderate rains over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol and Visayas as Isang will enhance the southwest monsoon or the habagat.

Isang is forecast to move west northwestward at a speed of 17 kph and expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning where it is expected to be located 665 km west northwest of Basco, Batanes.

On Tuesday morning, Isang is expected to be located 175 km west northwest of Basco, Batanes.