'Gardo' seen to bring monsoon rains over MIMAROPA, Western Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon "Gardo" has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and may enhance the southwest monsoon, or habagat, PAGASA said on Monday morning.

According to its Severe Weather Bulletin issued at 5 a.m., the eye of the typhoon was 1,325 km east of Basco, Batanes early Monday morning and forecast to move west northwest at 30 kph. It is forecast to be 760 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday morning.

The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 200 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 245 kph, PAGASA said.

No tropical cyclone warning signals have been raised, although the weather bureau said the typhoon may enhance habagat and bring monsoon rains over the MIMAROPA and Western Visayas regions as well as occasional rains over Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Zambales, Bataan, and Aurora until Tuesday.

The storm may also bring monsoon rains over most of Luzon starting Wednesday.

"Residents of these areas, especially those living in low-lying and mountainous areas, are advised to take appropriate actions against possible flooding and landslides resulting from heavy rains," PAGASA said.

Sea travel is risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, the weather bureau also said.

Although no storm warning signals have been raised, classes have been suspended in the following towns and cities:

Metro Manila

• Las Piñas
• Malabon
• Mandaluyong
• Marikina
• Manila
• Muntinlupa
• Navotas
• Parañaque
• Pasay
• Pateros
• San Juan
• Taguig
• Valenzuela

Bulacan

• Balagtas 
• Marilao
• Meycauayan
• Obando

Cavite 

• Bacoor
• Dasmariñas
• Imus
• Noveleta
• Silang

Pangasinan

• Mangaldan (preschool to high school)

Rizal 

• Angono
• Binangonan
• Cainta
• Cardona
• Morong
• Pililia
• San Mateo
• Tanay
• Taytay
• Teresa
• Rodriguez

Classes have also been suspended in the provinces of Abra, Bataan, Laguna and Zambales—except Olongapo City.