‘Gardo’ has no effect on Mindanao says Pagasa

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

THE rains in Mindanao were due to localized thunderstorms, and not because of typhoon “Gardo,” the most powerful storm to enter the country’s territory so far this year,  the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration  (Pagasa) said yesterday.

June Frivaldo, a weather specialist as Pagasa’s Mindanao station in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, assured that Mindanao would not be affected by the violent storm hovering over the ocean more than a thousand kilometers east of Basco Batanes as of 2 pm yesterday.

“Gardo” (international name: “Maria”) packed winds of  200 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 245 kph.

“Gardo” has been described as a “super typhoon” and a “violent storm” by other weather monitors. Pagasa did not classify it as a super typhoon because it packed winds less than its standard of 220 kpw.

In 2013, super typhoon “Yolanda” brought death and destruction in the Visayas. It packed winds of 230 kpw.

Frivaldo said “Gardo” was too far  to affect Mindanao.

Besides, according to Frivaldo, “Gardo” has not been forecast to make a landfall.

“Kita dinhi sa Mindanao, walay angay kabalak-an,” he said.

Pagasa said a low pressure area is also pulling the southwest monsoon and blocking Gardo’s rains.

But Frivaldo said Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and other areas in Mindanao may continue to have rains in the afternoon and evening because of cumulonimbus clouds or localized thunderstorms.