Severe tropical storm "Maring" (international name "Kompasu") moved faster and inched closer to the extreme portion of northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 2 p.m. bulletin.
PAGASA maintained that Maring may traverse across the Luzon Strait between Monday afternoon and Tuesday early morning, Oct. 12, and pass "very close or over the Babuyan Islands" Monday afternoon or evening.
However, PAGASA has not ruled out the possibility of landfall over mainland northern Cagayan or a close approach over Batanes.
Regardless of where exactly the center makes landfall, 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.
As of 1 p.m., Monday, the center of the severe tropical storm was located 150 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, or 170 km east-southeast of Calayan, Cagayan.
Maring has 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 20 kph.
Due to the anticipated passage of Maring, 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, northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands, and Calaguas Islands.
Maring brings heavy to at times torrential rains, strong winds, rough seas
PAGASA said Maring will 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 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, 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 2.5 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.