By Alec Go
Tropical Depression Maymay is expected to maintain strength before making a landfall in Aurora province by Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, the country’s weather bureau said.
As of 4:00 p.m., Maymay was at 265 kilometers (km) east of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
In the 5:00 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over the following areas:
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
Extreme northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands
PAGASA said Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela, Batanes, and Apayao will experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains until Wednesday afternoon.
Aurora, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, and the rest of Isabela will also experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.
“Sa Metro Manila at nalalabing bahagi ng ating bansa, asahan natin ang bahagyang maulap hanggang sa maulap na kalangitan na may mga isolated rainshower o thunderstorm mostly tuwing hapon at gabi,” PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said.
Maymay may move slowly westward toward Central Luzon and may weaken into a low pressure area as it traverses the landmass.
A gale warning is currently in effect over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, and the eastern coast of Polillo Island.
Meanwhile, the tropical depression being monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) may enter PAR by Thursday and may move towards extreme Northern Luzon.
“Maaari rin siyang mag-intensify into a tropical storm by Thursday, at hindi natin tinatanggal ang posibilidad na mas lumakas pa siya dahil nga binabaybay pa niya itong karagatan,” Torres said.
