Tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 remains hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, particularly Santa Ana and Gonzaga, including Babuyan Islands, as tropical depression "Emong" moves closer to the extreme northern Luzon area on Monday afternoon, July 5.

These areas may experience strong winds during the passage of Emong, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 2 p.m. weather bulletin.

PAGASA is still not ruling out the possible raising of Signal No. 2 over some of the areas currently under Signal No. 1, as Emong may intensify into a tropical storm within 12 hours.

Emong was estimated at 270 kilometers east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan at around 1 p.m.

It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Emong also continued to move northwestward but at a slower pace of 20 kph.

On its forecast track, tropical depression Emong may pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Batanes-Babuyan Islands area on Monday afternoon or evening.

As early as Monday morning, Emong may already bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

"Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps," PAGASA warned.

"Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," it added.

After passing in the vicinity of extreme northern Luzon as a tropical storm, Emong may weaken into a tropical depression due to its interaction with the rugged terrain of southern Taiwan.

PAGASA said that tropical depression Emong will likely exit the Philippine area of responsibility by early Tuesday morning, July 6.