By Ma. Cristina Arayata/Philippine News Agency
Weather disturbance “Maring” has intensified into a severe tropical storm (STS) and is still enhancing the southwest monsoon, the weather bureau said Monday noon.
“Maring” now packs maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
It was last tracked 240 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, or 265 km east southeast of Calayan, Cagayan and moving westward at 15 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been hoisted over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas, Mallig, Quezon), Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
These areas will experience damaging gale-force to storm-force winds.
Areas under TCWS No. 1 are the rest of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, the northern portion of Bataan (Samal, Morong, Dinalupihan, Abucay, Orani, Hermosa), the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands, and Calaguas Islands.
Strong winds will prevail in these areas.
Joey Figuracion of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that since “Maring” is enhancing the southwest monsoon, the Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro may experience monsoon rains.
The enhanced southwest monsoon will also cause occasional gusts reaching strong to gale-force in strength over the island, coastal, and upland localities of the Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte, and the rest of Luzon.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy, with at times intense rains will continue over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region.
Light to moderate, with at times heavy rains are possible over central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley.
Scattered flash floods and rain-induced landslides are likely, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards.
Gale warning is still in effect over the seaboards of Southern Luzon and the Visayas, and western seaboard of Central Luzon that are not under the TCWS.
Rough to high seas will continue to prevail over the seaboards of areas where TCWS No. 2 and 1 are in effect. These sea conditions are risky for all types of sea vessels.
Likewise, moderate to rough seas will prevail over the remaining seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas, and the northern, eastern, and western seaboards of Mindanao. These conditions are risky for those using small seacraft.
Figuracion said “Maring” may intensify into a typhoon and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday. (PNA)-rir
