The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 10, raised tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 over six areas in Luzon as tropical storm "Maring" starts to move west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Cagayan.

In the 5 p.m. bulletin, Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Isabela, Apayao, northern portion of Kalinga, and northeastern portion of Ilocos Norte due to the anticipated direct effect of tropical storm Maring.

Signal No. 1 was also in effect in the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, northern and central portion of Aurora, northern portion of Nueva Ecija, Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, eastern portion of Northern Samar, and eastern portion of Samar.

Stormy weather in next several hours

PAGASA said Maring will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region.

Light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains may also prevail over Central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley.

PAGASA added that the enhancement of the southwesterlies may bring rains over Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro.

It 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.

Moreover, gale-to-storm-force strength winds may prevail in areas where Signal No. 2 is currently in effect.

Strong winds with higher gusts may also persist in areas under Signal No. 1

However, due to the expansive wind field of the tropical storm and the gradual enhancement of the southwesterlies and northeasterlies, PAGASA said that occasional gusts may also affect the coastal and upland or mountainous areas of Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol Region, Visayas, Caraga, and Northern Mindanao even in the absence of wind signals.

Possible landfall over mainland Luzon 'not ruled out'

As of 4 p.m., the center of tropical storm "Maring" was estimated at 645 kilometers (km) east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, or 655 km east of Aparri, Cagayan.

PAGASA said Maring maintained its maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.

It may continue to move west-northwestward in the next 12 hours before turning westward toward extreme northern Luzon.

Afterward, the storm may move generally westward over the Luzon Strait and pass close or over the Babuyan Islands between Monday evening, Oct. 11, and Tuesday, Oct. 12.

However, PAGASA maintained that the possibility of landfall over mainland Luzon is not ruled out at this time.

Maring may gradually intensify and may be upgraded into a severe tropical storm category within the next 12 hours.