By Brian Campued
Tropical Depression Ramil slightly intensified while moving over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Friday.
As of 10:00 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Ramil was located 760 km east of Virac, Catanduanes. It packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph, and is moving southwestward at 25 kph.
“Base po sa ating latest animation, wala pang direktang epekto itong si Bagyong Ramil subalit yung trough or yung outer portion nitong bagyo ay nakakaapekto na dito sa may Bicol at sa may Eastern Visayas,” PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said in a public briefing.
According to PAGASA’s track forecast, Ramil will continue to intensify over the Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm strength within the next 12 hours before making landfall over Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18.
It will then begin to move west-northwestward towards the Central-Southern Luzon area and may make another landfall over Aurora or Quezon on Sunday morning, Oct. 19.
“Simula naman Sunday ng umaga hanggang sa gabi ay babagtasin po nito itong timog na bahagi ng Northern Luzon, buong Central Luzon, at affected din po ang malaking bahagi ng CALABARZON and that includes Metro Manila,” Estareja said.
However, PAGASA said that “a southward shift of the track could lead to a different landfall area” and more inclusion of localities under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS).
As of 11:00 a.m., the TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the eastern provinces of Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas:
- Eastern and southern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay), including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- Ticao Island
- Northern Samar
- Northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
- Northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)
Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within the areas under Wind Signal No. 1, PAGASA said. Residents may begin experiencing strong winds in the next 36 hours or less.
PAGASA noted that the periphery of Ramil and the easterlies will still bring strong-to-gale force gusts over the areas not under any Wind Signal, such as Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Quezon, including Polillo Islands, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Mindoro Provinces, Masbate, and Northern Samar.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Ramil will also bring moderate to heavy rains over Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar until Saturday noon.
Heavy to intense rains are forecast over Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes between Saturday noon to Sunday noon, while moderate to heavy rains may persist over Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Marinduque, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar.
Estareja stressed that heavy rains may cause localized or numerous flooding and landslides in the abovementioned areas.
Residents in low-lying or exposed coastal localities of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar are advised to stay away from the coast and cancel all marine activities due to possible storm surge that may reach 1 to 2 meters within 48 hours.
For mariners, PAGASA said a gale warning may be raised over the northern seaboard of Eastern Visayas and the seaboards of Southern Luzon on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning “in anticipation of rough to very rough sea conditions.”
“We are giving our public po the time, ngayong araw na po para po maghanda at mag-reinforce ng bahay para po doon sa mararamdaman nating malakas na hangin at malakas na ulan,” Estareja said.
-jpv
