By Alec Go
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been raised over areas in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon as Tropical Storm Karding intensifies while moving west-southwestward.
Karding was at 795 kilometers (km) east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and gustiness of up to 105 km/h according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
As of 5:00 a.m., Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over the following areas:
- Isabela
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- Southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Solana, Tuao, Enrile), Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Aurora
- Northern and eastern portions of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Laur, Rizal, San Jose City, Lupao, Llanera, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, General Tinio)
The tropical storm will bring light to moderate rains over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, and the northern portion of Aurora on Saturday night until Sunday morning.
Heavy to intense rains will be experienced over the northern portion of Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija on Sunday until early Monday morning.
Moderate to heavy rains will also prevail over mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Provinces, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, the northern portion of Zambales, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region; while the rest of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon will experience light to moderate rains.
Karding is expected to make landfall on Sunday afternoon and may still intensity into a typhoon before landfall. It is forecast to cross Northern Luzon before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday.
Signal No. 3 is likely to be raised, while the possibility for hoisting Signal No. 4 over portions of Central and Northern Luzon has not yet been ruled out.
“Maliban kay Bagyong Karding, patuloy pa ring umiiral ang southwest monsoon (habagat),” PAGASA senior weather specialist Obet Badrina said.
“Dahil dito, inaasahan na magiging maulap ang kalangitan partikular sa may Kabisayaan, Southern Luzon kasama ang Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region,” he added.
No gale warnings have been issued as of posting.
