More areas under signs of tropical cyclones as Pepito hits Luzon

MANILA – More areas of the country were placed under signs of tropical cyclones as Tropical Storm Pepito continued to advance through Luzon and over the Caraballo-Cordillera Mountains early Wednesday, the state meteorological office PAGASA said.

In its 2 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said that Pepito was seen at 1 a.m. in the vicinity of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gusts of 125 kph as it moved west-northwest to 20 kph.

PAGASA said the tropical storm is forecast to move generally west-northwest or west over the Luzon landmass and emerge over the Western Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning before leaving the Philippine Area of ​​Responsibility (PAR ) Thursday morning or afternoon.

The state meteorological office said Pepito will likely maintain his strength as he crosses Luzon, but a slight weakening in intensity remains a possibility.

The weather disturbance is expected to further intensify and likely reach severe tropical storm status on Thursday, PAGASA said.

Pepito will bring moderate to heavy rains over Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, northern Quezon (including the Polillo Islands), Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, the mainland of Cagayan, La Unión and Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, mild to moderate with heavy rains will sometimes prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Bangsamoro.

PAGASA warned that flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides can occur during heavy or prolonged rains in affected areas.

More areas were also added to locations under tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS).

TCWS No. 2 was lifted in the following areas where winds of 61-120 kph are expected in 24 hours and can damage old and wooden power poles:

• Ilocos South
• The Union
• Pangasinan
• Ifugao
• Mountain province
• Benguet
• southern portion of Isabela (Palanan, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Burgos, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cauayan City, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Alicia, San Mateo, Ramon, San Isidro , Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Santiago City, Cordon)
• Quirino
• New Vizcaya
• dawn
• New Ecija
• Tarlac
• northern portion of Zambales (Iba, Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Botolan, Cabangan)

The agency raised TCWS No. 1 in the following areas where 30 to 60 kph winds can rip roofs off nipa and cogon huts, damage rice crops, and topple banana plants:

• Ilocos North
• Kalinga
• Open
• the rest of Isabela
• the rest of Zambales
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Bataan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands.

The meteorological office has warned that the shorelines of the areas under TCWS will experience rough to very rough seas and that sea travel is risky in these areas, especially for those using small boats.

Meanwhile, the gale warning is in effect over the Batanes and Cagayan littorals and the western shores of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Island) and Palawan (including the Calamian Islands) due to rough to very rough seas, PAGASA said. .

The moderate to rough seas will also prevail over Palawan and the eastern shores of southern Luzon, eastern Visayas, Caraga and the Davao region, PAGASA said, advising those with small boats to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. .

Meanwhile, PAGASA said that a tropical depression was detected outside PAR and that it was located approximately 1,825 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km / h near the center and gusts of 70 km / h while moving east-southeast at 15 km / h.

But the weather agency said it is less likely to enter PAR.

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