Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may prevail over Batanes and Babuyan Islands as tropical depression "Emong" moves closer to the extreme northern Luzon area on Monday, July 5.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of Emong at 315 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan at around 10 a.m.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph while moving northwestward at 40 kph.
On its forecast track, Emong may pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Batanes-Babuyan Islands area on Monday afternoon or evening.
However, PAGASA said that due to the fast movement of the tropical depression, there is an increasing chance that the close approach or landfall will happen at a much earlier time.
As early as Monday morning, Emong may already bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
"Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps," PAGASA warned.
"Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," it added.
Tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 remains hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, particularly Santa Ana and Gonzaga, including Babuyan Islands.
These areas may experience strong winds during the passage of Emong.
PAGASA is still not ruling out the possible raising of Signal No. 2 over some of the areas currently under Signal No. 1, as Emong may intensify into a tropical storm within 12 hours.
After passing in the vicinity of extreme northern Luzon as a tropical storm, Emong may weaken into a tropical depression due to its interaction with the rugged terrain of southern Taiwan.
PAGASA said that Emong will likely exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Tuesday morning, July 6.
Meanwhile, PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said the low pressure area west of the country has already left the PAR on Monday morning.
It was estimated at 370 km north of Kalayaan Island, Palawan at around 10 a.m. It continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat," which may cause rough to very rough seas.
Perez said PAGASA will continue to monitor this weather disturbance for its adverse effect on the coastal waters of the country.