Tropical storm "Maring" (international name "Kompasu") has kept its strength as it continues to move closer to the extreme portion of northern Luzon on Monday morning, Oct. 11.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Maring will likely approach the Luzon Strait between Monday afternoon and Tuesday early morning, Oct. 12, and pass very close or over the Babuyan Islands without ruling out the possibility of landfall over mainland northern Cagayan or a close approach over Batanes.
However, it pointed out that a slightly earlier passage over the extreme northern Luzon remains a possibility, considering the storm's faster movement over the past couple of hours.
As of 4 a.m., the center of Maring was estimated at 350 kilometers (km) east of Aparri, Cagayan.
It has 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 25 kph.
"Maring is forecast to consolidate in the near term and intensify into a severe tropical storm within the next 12 hours," PAGASA said.
Due to the anticipated passage of Maring, Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
Signal No. 1 is also still in effect in the rest of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, northern portion of Bataan, northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands, and Calaguas Islands.
Stormy weather in next few 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.
Tropical storm Maring is also expected to enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" and bring rains over Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro in the next 24 hours.
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.
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 Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte, and the rest of Luzon even in the absence of wind signals.
Maring will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said.