As tropical storm Karding accelerated toward the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it may raise wind signals this Friday evening, Sept. 23.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Karding was last seen 1,085 kilometers east of Northern Luzon and was moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph).
It was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
“Tropical cyclone wind signals may be hoisted as early as tonight (Sept. 23) over the eastern portions of Northern and Central Luzon in anticipation of winds of at least strong breeze to near gale strength associated with the approaching tropical cyclone,” PAGASA said.
“Per latest track and intensity forecast, the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 2. However, the potential for hoisting a Wind Signal No.3 is not ruled out at this time,” it added.
Weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said Karding is still likely to make landfall over the Cagayan-Isabela area on Sunday morning, Sept. 25.
“Sunday ang crucial period kung saan dadaan ang bagyo sa northern Luzon (Sunday is the crucial period when storm Karding will pass through northern Luzon),” Ordinario said in a press conference.
From Saturday evening through early morning, Sept. 24, he said that light to heavy rains may prevail over Batanes, Cagayan, and Isabela.
From Sunday through early Monday morning, Sept. 25 to 26, moderate to intense rains may prevail over Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union, while light to heavy rains may affect the northern portion of Aurora. Pangasinan, and Cagayan Valley.
“Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” Ordinario warned.
Due to the southwest monsoon or “habagat” that is partly influenced by Karding, occasional rains are also possible beginning Sunday over most of Southern Luzon and Visayas, especially the western part of these areas.
“Posible ring magkaroon ng ulan sa Metro Manila dulot ng habagat na hahatakin ng bagyong Karding sa Linggo (It is also possible that there will be rains in Metro Manila due to the southwest that will be pulled by typhoon Karding by Sunday),” Ordinario said.