By Marjaleen Ramos
Tropical storm “Sarah” has intensified into a severe tropical storm Thursday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported.
As of 4 a.m. Thursday, the center of “Sarah” was estimated at 425 kilometers (km) northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 340 km east of Basco, Batanes. It has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h. It is moving north northwest at 25 km/h.
Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 was hoisted in Batanes and Babuyan group of islands.
Light to moderate rains with some isolated heavy rain showers will be experienced over Isabela, Cagayan especially on the eastern section, Aurora, northern Quezon, Metro Manila, and most of Central Luzon due to the remnant of the Low Pressure Area (LPA) of Tropical Depression “Ramon” and the trough of “Sarah.”
Meanwhile, “Ramon” was last spotted at 110 kilometers west of Subic, Zambales.
Residents in the aforementioned areas are advised to continue monitoring for updates and take the necessary precautionary measures.
Sea travel is also risky, especially for small sea vessels over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the western seaboard of Southern Luzon due to potentially rough sea conditions caused by “Sarah” and northeast monsoon.
“Sarah” is forecast to gradually weaken on Friday or Saturday. It is also expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday.