Tropical depression “Quinta” (international name “Molave”) intensified into a tropical storm early Sunday, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to raise tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 2 over Bicol region and some parts of Southern Luzon.
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 5 a.m., PAGASA hoisted Signal No. 2 over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, northern part of Masbate (Baleno, Aroroy, and Masbate City), including Burias and Ticao Islands, southern part of Quezon (Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Mulanay, Catanauan, Lopez, Gen. Luna, Macalelon, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Atimonan, and Agdangan), and Marinduque.
These areas may experience 61 to 120 kilometer per hour winds in 24 hours.
Signal No. 1 was raised over the rest of Masbate and Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, southern part of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, and Cabangan), Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Northern Samar, and northern part of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Sto. Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-an, Gandara, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao, San Jorge, Tarangnan, and Pagsanghan), and northern part of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Dolores, Oras, Jipapad, Arteche, and San Policarpo).
These areas may experience 30 to 60 kph winds or intermittent rains in at least 36 hours.
PAGASA last spotted Quinta at 345 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes around 4 a.m. Sunday, moving at 20 kph, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Quinta will likely be 75 kms west of Pili, Camarines Sur or 120 kms east-southeast of Tayabas, Quezon by Monday morning; 365 kms west of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro by Tuesday morning; and 840 kms west of Central Luzon or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday morning.
Quinta maintained its westward track and could make landfall over Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon between Sunday afternoon and evening, slightly earlier than the initial timeline of Sunday evening to Monday morning.
After its landfall, PAGASA said the storm will traverse Southern Luzon areas until Monday afternoon or evening, then turn west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea.
It is likely to exit the PAR Tuesday afternoon.
PAGASA is not ruling out the possible further intensification of Quinta into a severe tropical storm (with maximum wind speed of 89 to 117 kph) prior to landfall.
After crossing the Philippine archipelago, the weather disturbance may continue to intensify over the West Philippine Sea, and become a typhoon (with maximum wind speed of 118 to 220 kph) by Tuesday evening.
Quinta may bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Calamian Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Aklan, and Antique in the next 24 hours.
The tail-end of a frontal system will also bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over the northern portions of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
PAGASA said both weather systems may also cause light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Metro Manila, Palawan, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province Apayao, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.
The State weather bureau warned of possible flooding, rain-induced landslides, or sediment-laden streamflow (lahar) during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
Rough to very rough sea conditions will also prevail over the entire coastlines of Northern Luzon, with wave heights that may reach 3.0 to 5.5 meters, and seaboards of Aurora, Zambales, northern Palawan, including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands (wave heights from 2.5 to 4.5 meters), and all areas under tropical cyclone signals No. 1 and 2 (wave heights up to 2.5 to 5.5 meters).
Sea travel is suspended in these areas.
Moderate to rough seas, with waves that may reach 1.2 to 2.8 meters, will prevail over the other coastlines of the country.
PAGASA advised those using small boats to take necessary precautionary measures while venturing out to sea, while inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.