'Salome' maintains strength as it nears extreme Northern Luzon — PAGASA
At A Glance
- 'Salome' maintains strength as it moves closer to extreme Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph.
- Batanes and parts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte remain under Signal No. 1 as the tropical depression may pass close to or make landfall over Batanes within 12 hours.
- PAGASA forecasts that Salome may weaken into a remnant low by Friday, Oct. 24, though slight intensification into a tropical storm is not ruled out.
Satellite image of Tropical Depression Salome (PAGASA)
Tropical Depression Salome maintained its strength on Wednesday evening, Oct. 22, as it continued to move closer to extreme Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Salome was estimated at 90 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.
It packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, moving southward at 20 kph.
PAGASA said Salome is expected to move generally southwestward throughout the forecast period due to the influence of a high-pressure area over mainland China.
On its forecast track, the tropical depression may pass close to or make landfall over Batanes within the next 12 hours.
It may also pass near or over the Babuyan Islands by Thursday morning, Oct. 23, and over Ilocos Norte by noon or afternoon.
Salome is likely to remain a tropical depression before weakening into a remnant low by Friday, Oct. 24, though a slight intensification into a tropical storm is not ruled out.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains raised over Batanes, western portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan and Dalupiri Islands), and northwestern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Pagudpud, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, and Laoag City).
PAGASA said Signal No. 1 will likely be the highest wind signal raised throughout Salome’s passage, although in the event of a slight intensification, Signal No. 2 could be hoisted.