Tropical depression Neneng has weakened slightly while accelerating west southwestward, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday, Oct. 14.
PAGASA’s latest bulletin showed that the center of Neneng was spotted 835 kilometers (km) east of extreme northern Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of up to 55 kph, and is moving west southwestward at 25 kph.
Despite the “slight weakening” of the weather disturbance, the raising of tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) is not ruled out.
“TCWS No. 1 may be hoisted over the eastern portion of northern Luzon in the anticipation of winds associated with the approaching tropical cyclone,” said PAGASA in its 11 a.m. bulletin.
“Per latest track and intensity forecast, the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is Wind Signal no. 2,” it added.
Residents of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Kalinga were likewise warned against light to moderate with at times heavy rains that Neneng may bring beginning Saturday, Oct. 15.
Track and intensity
In a press conference, PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist Raymond Ordinario said Neneng is seen to retain its tropical depression category in the next 24 hours, but he also stressed that the state weather bureau is not yet ruling out the possibility of Neneng's further intensification.
“Within the next 24 hours ay tropical depression pa rin si Neneng. Pero nakikita natin ang potensyal nitong maging tropical storm bago ito lumapit sa mga isla sa extreme northern Luzon. Hindi natin inaalis yung possibility na lumakas pa ito habang bumabaybay sa mga isla sa hilagang Luzon (Within the next 24 hours, Neneng will remain a tropical depression, but we see the potential of it becoming a tropical storm before it approaches the islands in extreme northern Luzon. We are not ruling out the possibility that it will further strengthen as it moves across the islands in northern Luzon,” said Ordinario.
Neneng may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Monday, Oct. 17 or Tuesday, Oct. 18.