Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still raised in six areas in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon as tropical depression Maymay barely moved over the Philippine Sea, according to the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its 11 a.m. bulletin released on Wednesday, Oct. 12, PAGASA said Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, and the extreme northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands due to strong winds that may be experienced in these areas.
Maymay was located 310 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Baler, Aurora, or 245 km east of Casiguran, Aurora around 10 a.m.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
PAGASA said moderate to intense rains may prevail over Cagayan, northern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.
Meanwhile, light to heavy rains may persist in Batanes, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Isabela, Abra, and Benguet.
“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA warned.
PAGASA said that Maymay may weaken into a low pressure area or LPA as it approaches the landmass of Central Luzon.
“On the forecast track, the center of tropical depression Maymay is forecast to move slowly westward or west-southwestward towards the eastern coast of Central Luzon. Maymay is forecast to weaken into a remnant low as it approaches the landmass,” it said.
Tropical depression outside PAR
PAGASA said the tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) is still expected to enter the region by Thursday, Oct. 13.
The next tropical cyclone name on PAGASA’s list is “Neneng.”
The tropical depression’s location was estimated 1,980 km east of Northern Luzon around 10 a.m.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, while moving northwestward at 20 kph.
“The tropical depression is forecast to continue moving northwestward in the next 24 hours. On the track forecast, the tropical cyclone may enter the PAR region on Thursday morning or afternoon. After it enters the PAR, the tropical depression will move westward towards the extreme Northern Luzon,” PAGASA said.
It also said that the cyclone may intensify into a tropical storm by Friday, Oct. 14.
“Current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signals will be hoisted over Batanes and several provinces in Northern Luzon. The highest possible wind signal that may be hoisted is Signal No. 2,” PAGASA said.
“The passage of this tropical cyclone over extreme Northern Luzon may bring heavy rainfall over the area beginning Saturday, Oct. 15,” it said.