By Brian Campued
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been raised in 12 areas in northeastern Luzon as Severe Tropical Storm Marce (international name: Yinxing) intensifies into a typhoon Tuesday morning, the state weather bureau said.
In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued 11:00 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eye of “Marce” is located 590 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora.
Marce is moving west-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour, with winds of 120 kph near its center and gusts of up to 150 kph.
In its track forecast, PAGASA said that the typhoon will reach peak intensity before making landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands or over the northern portion of mainland Cagayan late Thursday (Nov. 7) or early Friday (Nov. 8).
“Posible itong bumagal bago mag-landfall kaya mararamdaman din natin ’yong mga malalakas na ulan, malalakas na hangin lalo na sa malalapit na area…sa may silangang bahagi ng northern Luzon,” PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said in a press briefing.
“Inaasahan nga rin natin na dahil may high pressure area sa hilaga nitong si Marce, hindi natin tinatanggal yung possibility na mas bumaba yung landfall area nito…at mapunta sa may Cagayan-Isabela area,” Torres added.
Marce is forecast to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday evening or early Saturday morning (Nov. 9).
Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted in the following areas:
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Ilocos Norte
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Bayombong, Solano, Quezon, Kasibu)
- Northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Saguday, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Maddela)
- Northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)
Strong to gale-force winds are also forecast today in Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte.
Meanwhile, a gale warning is hoisted over the northern and eastern seaboards of Batanes, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan Including Babuyan Islands.
—iro