Tropical Storm Nando slightly intensifies; southwest monsoon bringing rain

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The maximum sustained winds of Tropical Storm Nando (Ragasa) increase to 75 km/h early Friday, September 19

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Nando (Ragasa) slightly strengthened before dawn on Friday, September 19, with its maximum sustained winds increasing from 65 kilometers per hour to 75 km/h.

The tropical storm’s gustiness is now up to 90 km/h from the previous 80 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 am bulletin on Friday that Nando will continue to intensify over the Philippine Sea, and may eventually become a typhoon by Saturday evening, September 20.

In addition, PAGASA is still not ruling out the possibility of Nando strengthening into a super typhoon while crossing extreme Northern Luzon.

At 4 am on Friday, the tropical storm was spotted 1,075 kilometers east of Central Luzon, moving west northwest at 15 km/h. It remains far from land and is not yet affecting weather or sea conditions in the country.

Nando is projected to continue heading west northwest over the Philippine Sea in the coming hours, then “move in a loop pattern” before turning northwest to west northwest from Friday evening until early Monday morning, September 22.

“Afterwards, it is forecast to move generally westward while approaching extreme Northern Luzon,” added PAGASA.

Nando and the southwest monsoon or habagat — which the tropical cyclone might enhance — may start bringing heavy rain by Sunday, September 21, or Monday.

Signal No. 1 could also be raised in Northern Luzon as early as Saturday, providing lead time of 36 hours in preparation for strong winds. If Nando becomes a super typhoon, Signal No. 5 — the highest tropical cyclone wind signal — might be raised.

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 reach up to 14 meters.

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

Nando is the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2025, and the fourth for September. Its exit from the Philippine Area of Responsibility may happen by Tuesday afternoon or evening.

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Southwest monsoon

For now, the southwest monsoon is the only weather system causing rain in the country, particularly in much of Luzon, as well as western portions of the Visayas and Mindanao.

On Friday, scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon are expected in the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, and Bataan.

Isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are also hitting the rest of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Bicol, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula because of the southwest monsoon.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon and the trough or extension of the tropical storm are 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

Sunday, September 21

• Bicol, Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga

– Rappler.com