Tropical storm "Maring" (international name "Kompasu") intensified further and remained a "large" cyclone while interacting with tropical depression "Nando" over the Philippine Sea on Saturday morning, Oct. 9
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the interaction between Maring and Nando may result in the merging of the two cyclones into one within the next 36 hours.
PAGASA, in its 5 a.m. bulletin on Saturday, said Maring and Nando are presently embedded within the larger circulation of a monsoon depression.
Storm Maring, being the larger cyclone, will likely persist in the "merger event," it pointed out.
The storm may traverse the Luzon Strait and pass over or close to Batanes and Babuyan Islands between Monday evening, Oct. 11, and Tuesday morning, Oct. 12, based on the latest forecast track.
As of Saturday morning, Maring was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving east-northeastward at 15 kph.
The location of the center of the storm was estimated at 875 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar at around 4 a.m.
Meanwhile, the center of Nando was located 1,105 km east of Northern Luzon.
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph while moving westward at 25 kph.
Possible hoisting of tropical cyclone wind signals
PAGASA said Maring may continue to bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas and Dinagat Islands, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains are likely over Bicol Region, Caraga, and the rest of Visayas in the next few hours.
Beginning Saturday afternoon or evening, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Palawan and Occidental Mindoro as the southwesterlies enhanced by Maring begin affecting these areas.
PAGASA advised affected residents to remain vigilant against possible isolated scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides especially those in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
Based on its current forecast scenario, there is a "high likelihood" that tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 will be hoisted over some areas in northern Luzon between Saturday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 10, in anticipation of "strong breeze to near-gale conditions with higher gusts."
PAGASA said the highest possible wind signal for tropical storm Maring will likely be Signal No. 2.
However, due to the expansive wind field of the tropical storm, occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near-gale in strength may still be experienced over Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon even in the absence of a wind signal, it added.
PAGASA pointed out that with the interaction between Maring and Nando, "there is a moderate to high likelihood that changes may still occur in the track and intensity outlook" for these tropical cyclones within the next few hours.
It advised the public to continue monitoring these weather disturbances for possible changes in the track and intensity outlook.