'Maring' lashes parts of Luzon as it passes south of Camiguin Island, Cagayan

Severe tropical storm "Maring" (international name "Kompasu") has passed very close to the south of Camiguin Island in Cagayan province on Monday evening, Oct. 11, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

The center of the severe tropical storm was last spotted over the coastal waters of Aparri, Cagayan at around 7 p.m.

PAGASA maintained that Maring may pass "very close or over the Babuyan Islands" in the next few hours, but had not ruled out the possibility of landfall over the northern portion of mainland Cagayan or Ilocos Norte.

Regardless of where exactly the center of the storm hits land, Maring has a large circulation and as a result, it may bring heavy to at times torrential rains and strong winds over a large portion of northern and Central Luzon.

In its 8 p.m. bulletin on Monday, PAGASA said Maring maintained its maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph while moving westward at 25 kph.

Due to the storm's direct impact, tropical cyclone wind signal number 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, and northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands.

Maring brings heavy to at times torrential rains, gusty conditions, rough seas

PAGASA said Maring may continue to bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Batanes, northern portion of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also prevail over the rest of mainland Cagayan, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may affect Central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley.

Tropical storm Maring could also enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" and bring rains over Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental 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, while strong winds with higher gusts may 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.

In the next 24 hours, rough to high seas, up to 2.8 to 7.5 meters high, will be experienced over the seaboards of areas Signal Nos. 2 and 1.

"These conditions are risky for all types of sea vessels. Mariners are advised to remain in port or take shelter in port until winds and waves subside," PAGASA said.

Should it maintain its current speed and track, Maring will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday morning, PAGASA said.