Frequent rains, gusty winds, and rough seas loom as tropical depression "Pepito" could make landfall over Aurora or Isabela on Tuesday evening.
In the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration's (PAGASA) severe weather bulletin issued at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Signal No. 1 is hoisted over Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, northern portion of Quezon province (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands, and extreme northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons).
It has maintained its maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph but may intensify into a tropical storm before its landfall on Tuesday evening.
However, PAGASA is also not ruling out the possibility that "Pepito" may remain a tropical depression upon its landfall over the Aurora-Isabela area.
PAGASA estimated the location of tropical depression "Pepito" at 375 kilometers (km) east of Infanta, Quezon or 385 km east of Baler, Aurora around 7 a.m.
It is still seen to cross Luzon, emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday morning, and reach a severe tropical storm category by Thursday.
Moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Romblon, Quezon, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, mainland Cagayan, Pangasinan, and Benguet.
Light to moderate, with at times heavy rains, will also affect Metro Manila, Batanes, rest of Cagayan, Abra, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.
PAGASA warned of possible flooding or rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
Areas under Signal No. 1 may also experience high to gale-force winds, as well as over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and/or mountainous areas of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte due to the northeasterly surface wind flow.
A gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur due to rough to very rough seas and waves that may reach 2.8 to 5 meters.
Likewise, the seaboards of areas under Signal No. 1 will also experience rough to very rough seas, with waves up to 2.5 to 4.5 meters.
Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small boats, PAGASA warned.
Meanwhile, moderate to rough seas with waves that may reach 1.5 to 3.0 meters will prevail over the western and eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region.
PAGASA advised that those using small boats should take necessary precautionary measures while venturing out to sea.
The weather bureau said "Pepito" will be at 90 km west of Dagupan City in Pangasinan by Wednesday morning, and at 455 km west of Dagupan City on Thursday morning, and at 625 km west of Dagupan City or outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning.