‘Rolly’ further weakens; Signal No. 1 remains


Only tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 remains hoisted as the once destructive tropical storm “Rolly” (international name “Goni”) further weakens and prepares to leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

(PAGASA / MANILA BULLETIN)

In the 5 a.m. severe weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Signal No. 1 was still raised over the northwestern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog) including Lubang Island, western portion of Batangas (Tingloy, Mabini, Bauan, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Santa Teresita, Talisay, Laurel, Lemery, Calaca, Balayan, Calatagan, Tuy, Lian, Nasugbu), extreme western portion of Laguna (San Pedro City, Biñan City), Cavite, Metro Manila, western portion of Bulacan (San Jose del Monte City, Santa Maria, Pandi, Bustos, Baliuag, Marilao, Meycauayan City, Obando, Bocaue, Bulacan, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Pulilan, Plaridel, Malolos City, Paombong, Hagonoy, Calumpit), western portion of Pampanga (San Luis, Mexico, Masantol, Sasmuan, Floridablanca, Lubao, Porac, Guagua, Santa Rita, Bacolor, Angeles City, Santo Tomas, San Fernando City, San Simon, Macabebe, Minalin, Apalit), Bataan, and southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio, Castillejos, Subic, Olongapo City).

Areas under Signal No. 1, as well as Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan and Zambales, may still experience ”strong breeze to near gale conditions with occasional gusts.”

Rough to very rough open seas with waves that may reach up to 2.5 to 5.0 meters (m) will prevail over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, western seaboards of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro including Burias Island, and Calamian Islands, and eastern seaboards of Quezon including Polillo Islands and Bicol region. 

Sea travel remains risky over these waters, especially for those using small boats.

Meanwhile, moderate to rough seas with waves reaching 1.2 to 2.5 m will persist over the western seaboards of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands and eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao. 

PAGASA advised those using small sea vessels to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea, while inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.

The once destructive super typhoon “Rolly” has continued to substantially weaken but remains a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph on Monday morning.

It was estimated at 100 km west-southwest of Subic Bay, moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour, around 4 a.m.

PAGASA said “Rolly” may remain a tropical storm until it leaves the PAR by Tuesday morning but there is an increasing likelihood that it may weaken into a tropical depression due to “increasingly unfavorable conditions.”

The other tropical cyclone being monitored by PAGASA, tropical storm “Siony” (international name “Atsani”) was last observed at 850 km east of Northern Luzon on Monday morning.

It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, while moving west-northwest at 30 kph.

On Sunday evening, PAGASA said the center of “Siony” will likely to continue moving west-northwest until Monday evening

It is projected to slow down and barely move from Monday evening through Tuesday evening.

Afterwards, Siony will begin tracking west-southwest or west towards extreme Northern Luzon. 

However, PAGASA said that due to the projected erratic movement of the storm in the next 48 hours, there remains a high degree of uncertainty in its forecast track.