PAGASA chief: El Niño may worsen effects of 'weak' TS Nona

Tropical Storm Nona (international name Melor) will not likely intensify into a typhoon, but residents in Visayas and Luzon should not be too complacent and prepare for the cyclone.

"Ngayong [magpa-Pasko] kumpiyansa tayo, festive mood ang mga tao. Huwag po tyaong magkumpiyansa [sa mga lugar] na dadaanan ng bagyo," PAGASA acting administrator Vicente Malano said in a press briefing on Saturday morning.

"Kapag El Niño ay abnormal ang pagdami ng tubig [ulan]," he added.

Malano said people who should prepare for the tropical storm are residents of Catanduanes, Southern Luzon, including Mindoro and Batangas.

He added that Metro Manila will also feel the effects of Nona and the weather bureau may raise public storm signal number 1 in the capital region at the height of the cyclone.

Malano also warned residents in Samar of possible landslides and Cebu of flooding due to Nona.

He likened the effects of Nona to that of Tropical Storm Seniang, which hit the Visayas area last year and killed more than 60 people.

"Maraming areas na vulnerable sa floods and landslides. Noong nakaraang taon maraming nasalanta dahil sa landslide sa Samar at marmaing binaha sa Cebu," he recalled.

Malano, meanwhile, said that they are hoping Nona will bring enough amount of rain to ease the water supply shortage being felt in Metro Manila due to the effects of El Niño.

Nona entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility around 4 a.m. Saturday. It's center was estimated at 1,110 kilometers east of Maasin, Southern Leyte. 

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph and was moving west northwest at 25 kph.

Malano said that the Nona may not exceed the wind strength of 100 kph.

He said Nona is expected to make landfall over Bicol area by Tuesday morning.

Nona is also expected to hit Southern Luzon area, including Batangas and Mindoro, as it exits through the West Philippine Sea. —ALG, GMA News