By Brian Campued
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 remains hoisted in parts of Northern Luzon as Tropical Storm Maymay (international name: Kujira) maintained its strength while over the sea west of Ilocos Sur.
According to the 5:00 p.m. bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday, “Maymay” was last located 145 kph west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
The tropical storm packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph while moving north-northeastward at 10 kph.
“Bagamat nasa dagat pa yung tinatayang sentro ng bagyong si Maymay, makikita natin yung dalang kaulapan nito ay patuloy at paulit-ulit na ngang tumatama sa nakararaming bahagi ng Hilaga at ng Gitnang Luzon,” PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist Chris Perez said in a live briefing.
“Dagdag pa dyan, mapapansin natin yung kaulapan dito sa may bandang kanlurang bahagi ng Katimugang Luzon—iyan naman yung pinag-ibayong habagat o southwest monsoon,” he added.
Gale-force winds posing minor to moderate threat to life and property may be experienced within the next 24 hours in the following areas under TCWS No. 2:
- The southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Banna, Pinili, Badoc, Nueva Era, Sarrat, Paoay, Marcos, Currimao, San Nicolas, Dingras, Solsona, and the City of Batac)
- Ilocos Sur
- Northern and central portions of La Union (Luna, Caba, Santol, Bauang, City of San Fernando, San Juan, Bagulin, Aringay, Bangar, San Gabriel, Burgos, Naguilian, Bacnotan, Sudipen, and Balaoan)
- Northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Anda, Bolinao, and Bani)
- Abra
- Western portion of Kalinga (Pasil, Tinglayan, Balbalan, and Lubuagan)
- Western portion of Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Bauko, Sagada, Sabangan, Bontoc, and Sadanga)
- Northwestern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Sablan, Bakun, La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, and Buguias)
Strong winds with minimal to minor threat to life and property will likewise prevail in areas where Signal No. 1 is hoisted:
- Rest of Ilocos Norte
- Rest of La Union
- Rest of Pangasinan
- Apayao
- Rest of Kalinga
- Rest of Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Rest of Benguet
- Mainland Cagayan
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Northern portion of Zambales (Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Masinloc, and Palauig)
- Northern portion of Tarlac (Mayantoc, San Clemente, Camiling, Santa Ignacia, Gerona, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, and Victoria)
- Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Bongabon, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, General Mamerto Natividad, Quezon, and Licab)
- Northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, San Luis, and Maria Aurora)
Based on PAGASA’s track forecast, Maymay will move generally eastward and may make landfall over Ilocos Norte – Ilocos Sur – La Union area by Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, Aug. 6.
Afterwards, it will weaken into a tropical depression while traversing the landmass of Northern and Central Luzon on Thursday morning.
In terms of heavy rainfall, Tropical Storm Maymay will bring intense to torrential rains over Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Benguet until Thursday afternoon and heavy to intense rains over Pangasinan, Abra, Zambales, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.
Moderate to heavy rains will also bring moderate to heavy rains over Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan.
The enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), on the other hand, will bring moderate to heavy rains in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro during the same period.
“Maging alerto po tayo sa mga posibleng pagbaha, lalong-lalo na sa mga low-lying areas, sa mga flash flood-prone areas. At pagguho naman ng lupa sa mga lugar na malapit sa paanan ng bundok, lalong-lalo na kung napansin niyong ilang araw nang umuulan sa inyong lugar,” Perez said.
A Gale Warning is also in effect over the western seaboard of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, with waves forecast to reach 2.8-5.0 meters due to rough to very rough sea conditions brought by strong to gale-force winds associated with Maymay.
“Hangga’t maaari huwag nang pumalaot diyan ang anumang uri ng sasakyang pandagat,” Perez said.
Meanwhile, the typhoon with an international name “Dolphin” remains outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and was last located 1,645 km east-northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon.
“Bagamat maliit ang tiyansa nitong pumasok sa ating area of responsibility, yung inaasahang pagkilos nito patungo dito sa southern island ng Japan at dito sa bandang southeastern part of China over the next two to three days ay inaasahang patuloy na magpapa-ibayo ng habagat hanggang sa darating na weekend,” Perez said.
-av
