Several areas in northern Luzon may be placed under tropical cyclone wind signals by Saturday, Oct. 9., as tropical depression "Maring" continues to move erratically over the Philippine Sea.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Friday, Oct. 8, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Maring has slightly intensified packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph while moving southwestward at 15 kph.
As of 10 a.m., the center of the tropical depression was located 495 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 400 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
Based on the PAGASA's latest forecast, Maring may continue to moving erratically as it gradually consolidates over the next 12 to 24 hours.
"On the forecast track, Maring will likely track over the Luzon Strait and may pass over or near the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area between Monday afternoon (Oct. 11) and Tuesday early morning (Oct. 12)," PAGASA pointed out.
Moreover, PAGASA said Maring may intensify into a tropical storm by Saturday and then into a severe tropical storm by Monday.
"Current intensity forecast shows a peak intensity reaching 95 kph within the forecast period," it added.
"Current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a moderate to high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) will be hoisted over several provinces in Northern Luzon by early or mid-Saturday," it also said.
PAGASA pointed out that the highest possible wind signal for tropical depression Maring remains Signal No. 2.
"However, due to the uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast, there is a possibility that areas outside Northern Luzon may also be placed under TCWS and that a higher wind signal may still be hoisted within the forecast period," it added.
In the next few hours, the trough or extension of Maring may bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Cebu, and Bohol.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may begin to affect Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and the rest of Visayas by Saturday as the southwesterlies enhanced by the depression begins to affect the central portion of the country.
"Under these conditions, isolated scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps," PAGASA advised the public.