Tropical storm "Maring" (international name "Kompasu") and tropical depression "Nando" have maintained their strength while they continue to interact with each other on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 9.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Maring and Nando remain embedded within the larger circulation of a monsoon depression.

In the next 24 hours, the two cyclones will continue to interact with each other in a potential merger event.

Afterward, the resulting merger, likely dominated by Maring, will move generally west-northwestward until Monday, Oct. 11, before turning westward by Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Based on the latest forecast track, the storm will cross the Luzon Strait and pass over or close to Batanes and Babuyan Islands between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

PAGASA added that the resulting merger cyclone may continue its intensification within the forecast period and may reach the severe tropical storm category within 36 hours.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Maring was estimated at 745 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 840 km east of Southern Luzon, while the center of Nando was located 895 km east of Central Luzon.

Maring remains a tropical storm packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving eastward at 20 kph.

Nando, meanwhile, is still a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It is currently moving west-southwestward at 20 kph.

Heavy rains, gusty winds due to storm Maring

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Western Visayas, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan including Kalayaan, Calamian, and Cuyo Islands until Sunday morning.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also possible over Bicol Region, Caraga, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Visayas.

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.

Based on its current forecast scenario, there is a "moderate to high likelihood" that tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 will be hoisted over some areas in northern Luzon between Saturday evening, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 10, in anticipation of "strong breeze to near-gale conditions with higher gusts."

PAGASA said the highest possible wind signal for tropical storm Maring will likely be Signal No. 2.

However, due to the expansive wind field of the tropical storm, occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near-gale in strength may still be experienced over Eastern and Western Visayas, Caraga, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon even in the absence of a wind signal, it added.

PAGASA advised the public to continue monitoring these weather disturbances for possible changes in the track and intensity outlook.