By Brian Campued
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 in parts of Pangasinan and La Union as “Emong” further intensified into a severe tropical storm Thursday morning.
In its 8:00 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Severe Tropical Storm Emong was located 245 km west of Bacnotan, La Union, and is moving south-southwestward at 15 kph, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
The northern portion of Pangasinan (Anda, Bolinao, and Bani), as well as the western portion of La Union (Luna, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, City of San Fernando, Bauang, Caba, and Bangar), have been placed under TCWS No. 3 due to storm-force winds brought by Emong.
TCWS No. 2 is hoisted over the rest of Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and parts of Cagayan Valley:
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Rest of La Union
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Central portion of Pangasinan (Agno, Burgos, Mabini, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Infanta, Dasol, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Manaoag, Laoac, Binalonan, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Pozorrubio, Sison, San Fabian, San Jacinto)
- Northwestern and western portions of mainland Cagayan (Rizal, Santa Praxedes, Claveria)
- Western portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Santa Fe)
TCWS No. 1 is raised over the rest of Cagayan Valley and parts of Central Luzon:
- Batanes
- Rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Western and central portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Ramon, Cordon, Burgos, Cabatuan, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Gamu, Luna, Maconacon, Alicia, San Mariano, Naguilian, San Guillermo, City of Cauayan, Echague, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, Divilacan, San Isidro, Jones)
- Rest of Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- Rest of Pangasinan
- Northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan)
- Tarlac
- Western and central portions of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Aliaga, Zaragoza, San Antonio, Jaen, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Bongabon, Laur)
The state weather bureau said that Emong may intensify into a typhoon before making landfall over Ilocos Region Thursday evening or early Friday, July 25. After which, the tropical cyclone will re-emerge over the Luzon Strait near Babuyan Islands.
Due to very severe winds caused by Emong, a Gale Warning remains in effect over the western seaboards of Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon.
Residents in low-lying coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales are also warned of a storm surge that may reach as high as 2 meters within 36 hours.
-jpv
