The trough or extension of tropical depression "Maring" is expected to bring light to moderate with occasional heavy rains in the next several hours as the cyclone moves erratically over the Philippine Sea.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Friday, Oct. 8, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Maring has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph while moving southward at 10 kph.

It estimated the center of the tropical depression at 595 kilometers (km) east of Virac, Catanduanes or 540 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar at around 4 a.m.

Based on its latest forecast track, PAGASA said Maring will continue to move erratically as it gradually consolidates over the next 12 to 24 hours.

Afterward, it will move north-northwestward on Saturday morning, Oct. 9, then west-northwestward by evening.

"The cyclone is forecast to maintain a generally west-northwestward heading until Monday (Oct. 11). A more westward movement is likely by Tuesday (Oct. 12) as it moves away from the Luzon Strait. On the forecast track, Maring will likely track over the Luzon Strait and may pass over or near the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area between Monday afternoon and Tuesday early morning," PAGASA said.

As early as Friday, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may affect Eastern Visayas, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may begin affecting Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and the rest of Visayas by Saturday.

"Under these conditions, isolated scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps," PAGASA advised.

Moreover, PAGASA said there is a moderate to high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) will be hoisted over several provinces in Northern Luzon by early or mid-Saturday.

"The highest possible wind signal for this tropical cyclone remains TCWS No. 2. However, due to the uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast, there is a possibility that areas outside Northern Luzon may also be placed under TCWS and that a higher wind signal may still be hoisted within the forecast period," it pointed out.