"Helen" has intensified into a Tropical storm

At 10:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm "Helen" was estimated at 550 km East Northeast of
Casiguran, Aurora (17.2°N, 128.0°E).

Maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. Forecast to move West Northwest at 13 kph.

Tropical Storm "Helen" is expected to be at 330 km East Northeast of Tuguegarao City by tomorrow morning and at 80 km North Northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Wedsnesday morning. By Thursday morning, it is expected to be at 220 km West of Basco, Batanes.

Public storm warning signal:

Signal no.1

Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao,
Cagayan inc. Babuyan &
Calayan Grp. of Islands,
Batanes Grp. of Islands.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Tropical Storm "Helen" is expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon and Visayas especially over the western section.

Estimated rainfall amount is from 15 – 35 mm per hour (heavy - torrential) within the 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.

Intermittent light to moderate rains (2.5 – 7.5 mm/hr) are now affecting Central and Southern Luzon becoming more frequent moderate to heavy rains (7.5 – 10.0 mm/hr) during the latter part of the day towards the evening over Camarines provinces, Quezon province, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales and Metro Manila. — ARA