SEVERAL areas in Luzon were placed under Signal Number 2 as storm Aghon further intensified, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Sunday.

Under Signal Number 2 are Alabat, Perez, Quezon, Gumaca, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Unisan, Pitogo, Plaridel, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Mauban, Real, General Nakar, Infanta, Sampaloc, Pagbilao, Calauag, Lucban, City of Tayabas and Lucena City in Quezon province, including Polillo Islands.

Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and Visayas are under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Aghon intensified into a storm. PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and Visayas are under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Aghon intensified into a storm. PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and Visayas are under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Aghon intensified into a storm. PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and Visayas are under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Aghon intensified into a storm. PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN

Meanwhile, Pagasa said Signal No. 1 is up in Metro Manila, the southeastern portion of Isabela (Palanan and Dinapigue), the southern portion of Quirino (Maddela and Nagtipunan), the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda), the eastern and southern portions of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Pantabangan, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Laur, Palayan City, Peñaranda, San Leonardo, City of Gapan, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, San Isidro, Cabiao, San Antonio and Jaen), Aurora, the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Santa Ana and Arayat), Bulacan, the rest of Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Pinamalayan, Pola, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, City of Calapan, Bansud, Gloria, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Bongabong and Roxas), Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, the northern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Polangui, Malinao, Libon, Oas and City of Ligao) and Burias Islands.

The storm is moving northwestward at the speed of 10 kilometers per hour (kph), Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

Aghon had maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It is likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Quezon in the next few hours, then cross the landmass of mainland Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Polillo Islands.

"Aghon will be over the waters off the east coast of Quezon or Aurora by Sunday night or early Monday morning," the weather bureau said.

Until Monday night, Pagasa said 200 millimeters of rain could fall in Quezon while 100-200 mm could fall in Aurora, the eastern portion of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Metro Manila and Camarines Norte.

Aghon was forecast to reach severe tropical storm category on Tuesday.

The storm may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.