Nando strengthens into tropical storm over Philippine Sea

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Tropical Storm Nando (Ragasa) has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h as of Thursday evening, September 18

MANILA, Philippines – Nando intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm over the Philippine Sea at 8 pm on Thursday, September 18.

Its maximum sustained winds increased from 55 kilometers per hour to 65 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a bulletin released at 11 pm. Its gustiness is now up to 80 km/h from the previous 70 km/h.

Since Nando is now a tropical storm, it has been given an international name: Ragasa. This name, which refers to a surge or a “sudden quickening of movement,” happens to be contributed by the Philippines.

Nando is projected to strengthen further into a severe tropical storm on Friday, September 19, and into a typhoon on Saturday, September 20.

PAGASA is also not ruling out the possibility of Nando intensifying into a super typhoon while crossing extreme Northern Luzon.

As of 10 pm on Thursday, the tropical storm was located 1,175 kilometers east of Central Luzon, slowly moving west northwest. Given its current distance from land, Nando is not yet affecting weather and sea conditions in the country.

PAGASA said Nando will head west northwest to west in the next 24 hours, then “move in a loop pattern” before turning generally northwest to west northwest from Friday evening until Sunday evening, September 21.

“Afterwards, it is forecast to move westward while approaching extreme Northern Luzon,” added the weather bureau.

Nando and the southwest monsoon or habagat — which the tropical cyclone might enhance — may start bringing heavy rain by Sunday or Monday, September 22.

Signal No. 1 could also be raised in Northern Luzon as early as Saturday, to give affected areas 36 hours to prepare for strong winds from Nando. Signal No. 5, the highest tropical cyclone wind signal, might be raised if Nando becomes a super typhoon.

Also as early as Saturday, storm surge warnings may be issued in Northern Luzon.

PAGASA added that most of Luzon’s coastal waters are likely to be moderate to rough beginning Sunday. And, as Nando approaches extreme Northern Luzon, waves might be as high as 14 meters.

Nando could pass close to or make landfall in Cagayan province’s Babuyan Islands between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, September 23.

It may leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday afternoon or evening.

Nando is the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2025, and the fourth for September. It follows Mirasol, which left PAR as a tropical depression at 6 am on Thursday, then strengthened into a tropical storm a few hours later.

Mirasol’s international name is Mitag — contributed by Micronesia and referring to a woman’s name.

The tropical storm was last spotted 540 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes, at 10 pm on Thursday. It is moving north northwest at 10 km/h.

Like Nando, Mirasol now has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Loriedin de la Cruz said late Thursday evening that Mirasol’s trough or extension may still cause scattered rain in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and parts of Ilocos Sur in the coming hours.

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Southwest monsoon

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon is also affecting Central Luzon and Southern Luzon, as well as the western portions of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Scattered rain and thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are likely in the rest of Central Luzon, the rest of Calabarzon, and Bicol.

The southwest monsoon is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas, too:

Friday, September 19

• Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Bicol, Eastern Visayas

Saturday, September 20

• Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga

– Rappler.com