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Tropical Storm Mario, as of Sept 19, 6 am. Image from PAGASA website
MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Mario (Fung-Wong) has gained strength and slowed down on Friday morning, September 19, as it maintained its course towards northern Luzon, said state weather bureau PAGASA.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall warnings are raised over many areas in Luzon, with Metro Manila, Rizal, and Bulacan now at the red warning level.
As of 5 am Friday, the center of Mario was located at 212 km east of Casiguran, Aurora. The tropical storm packs maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 km per hour.
It is seen to move west northwest at 22 km per hour, PAGASA said, with moderate to intense rains (7 to 20 mm per hour) within the tropical storm's 350-km diameter.
According to independent weather monitoring agency Weather Philippines, Mario is forecast to make landfall over Northern Cagayan late Friday morning.
It added the storm will slow down late Friday to Saturday, bringing major rainfall event along Northern and Central Luzon – in particular, the western sections of the two regions.
PAGASA has raised public storm warning signal number 2 over the following areas:
Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands
Isabela
Kalinga
Apayao
Mt. Province
Abra
Ilocos Norte
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Meanwhile, public storm warning signal number 1 is raised over:
Aurora
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Ifugao
Benguet
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Batanes Group of Islands
Residents in these areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
The combined effects of Mario and the southwest monsoon will bring moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon which may also trigger flashfloods and landslides.
Mario is expected to be at 91 kms north northeast of Laoag City by Saturday morning, September 20; at 195 km northwest of Basco, Batanes, by Sunday morning, September 21; and, at 643 km north northeast of Basco – out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility – by Monday morning, September 22.
The next bulletin for Mario will be issued at 11 am Friday.
(http://static.rappler.com/images/rainfall-alert-pag-asa.png)
In addition, PAGASA hoisted heavy rainfall alerts over the the following areas on Friday morning:
Red rainfall warning:
Metro Manila
Bulacan
Rizal
Laguna
Orange rainfall warning:
Zambales
Yellow rainfall warning:
Bataan
Cavite
Batangas
Quezon
Light to moderate with occasionally heavy rains will also affect the provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac, which may persist within 3 hours.
Portions of Occidental Mindoro and northern Palawan will have light to moderate with occasionally heavy rains as well, persisting for 1-2 hours.
Meanwhile, light to moderate rains would affect portions of southern Palawan, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, which may continue for 1-2 hours.
From Rappler (http://www.rappler.com/nation/special-coverage/weather-alert/69531-20140919-mario-am-update)