By Brian Campued
Tropical Depression Salome continues to weaken while moving southwestward over Balintang Channel in the extreme northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said Thursday.
As of 10:00 a.m., Salome was located 115 km northwest of Calayan, Cagayan. It is moving southwestward at 20 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Despite its downgrading from tropical storm to tropical depression, Salome may still bring strong winds over the following areas under the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1:
- Batanes
- Northern and western portions of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Island, Dalupiri Island, Babuyan Island)
- Northwestern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Pagudpud, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Laoag City)
“Medyo may kalakasan pa rin po ‘yung hangin natin. Kahit tropical depression na lamang ito ay mag-ingat pa rin po ‘yung ating mga kababayan,” PAGASA Weather Specialist Leanne Loreto said in a public briefing.
Batanes will also experience moderate to heavy rains triggered by Salome until Friday noon, Oct. 24, which may cause localized flooding and landslides.
Gale warning remains hoisted over the seaboard of Batanes and Babuyan Islands, with rough to high or very rough sea conditions expected.
Based on its track forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the tropical cyclone will pass close to Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte today and weaken into a “remnant low” over the West Philippine Sea on Friday.
“Ngunit hindi nga natin inaalis ‘yung tiyansa na kung mag-southwestward pa ‘yung kaniyang movement (Tropical Depression Salome) ay posible nga pong maapektuhan pa rin ng malalakas na hangin ‘yung parte ng Ilocos Norte,” Loreto noted.
“Inaasahan po natin na habang papalayo na itong si Bagyong Salome ay magiging lesser na po ‘yung tiyansa ng mga malalakas na ulan at malalakas na hangin,” she added.
Meanwhile, the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)—or area where trade winds from the northern and southern hemispheres meet—will continue to drench Mindanao, Palawan, and the Negros Island Region.
-jpv
