MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Nando (Ragasa) was nearing super typhoon status before dawn on Sunday, September 21, as it continued to undergo rapid intensification.

Nando's maximum sustained winds increased further from 155 kilometers per hour to 175 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a briefing past 5 am on Sunday. Its gustiness is now up to 215 km/h from 190 km/h.

Nando is set to become a super typhoon in a matter of hours, and will strengthen further as it approaches extreme Northern Luzon. A super typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h or above.

As of 4 am, Nando was located 610 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, still moving northwest at 15 km/h.

It is heading for the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area, where it could make landfall on Monday afternoon or evening, September 22.

Nando is also enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat.

On Sunday, Nando is causing rain in Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, while the enhanced southwest monsoon is bringing rain to Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

In the next three days, the following areas are expected to receive the most rainfall from Nando and the southwest monsoon:

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 was raised due to Nando for the first time at 5 am on Sunday. Below are the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals.

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property

Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property

The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Nando is Signal No. 5.

The southwest monsoon and the trough of the typhoon are bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas as well:

In addition, there is still a high risk of "life-threatening" storm surges with peak heights above 3 meters in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur in the next 48 hours.

Conditions in various seaboards are also dangerous on Sunday as Nando approaches.

Up to very rough, high, or very high seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

Nando is the Philippines' 14th tropical cyclone for 2025, and the fourth for September. It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by early Tuesday morning, September 23. - Rappler.com