MANILA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tropical storm Nuri gained strength as it moved closer to northern Philippines and is expected to bring downpours to the country's western coasts in particular, the weather forecast bureau reported Monday.

    Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm, which packs maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour with gusts of 100 kilometers per hour, was located at 890 kilometers east of Aurora province at 4:00 p.m. Monday.

    Moving west at 22 kilometers per hour, the storm was forecast to be at 480 kilometers east off the Aurora province eastern coasts by Tuesday afternoon and to move further west and northwest to the northern tip of Luzon region.

    Public storm signal number 1 (30-60 kilometer per hour winds) was raised in the two northern provinces, the weather authority said.

    The storm will enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rains to the western parts of Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and even Mindanao, it said.

    Located to the west to the Pacific, the Philippine archipelago is a frequent victim of summer typhoons generated over the Pacific. Hundreds and even thousands of lives were lost every year in the devastation of tropical storms.