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MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Siony, known internationally as Atsani, managed to maintain its strength Wednesday night, prompting state meteorologists to advise people in northern Luzon not to be complacent about the weather.
Siony was still generating maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center with a gust of up to 115 kph, according to the latest severe weather bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
It was last seen 670 km east of Basco, Batanes, at which point it was expected to complete its turn to look west.
Siony is expected to move west and approach the northern tip of Luzon towards the Batanes and Babuyan Islands, possibly making landfall between Thursday night and Friday morning.
“Siony is still in a severe tropical storm category. So this means that the winds brought by the storm would be quite strong. Aside from the rains it brings, the winds near the center would also be strong. So we can’t put this aside, ”climate specialist Loriedin dela Cruz said in Filipino.
“That is why so early, we urge our compatriots to prepare and be careful, especially those in the extreme north of Luzon and other parts of northern Luzon.”
As of this writing, Pagasa has not ruled out the possibility of Siony making landfall as a typhoon.
But for the moment, its probability cone remains wide, although its probable southward trajectory was no longer expected to touch the northern coastlines of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.
The tropical cyclone wind signal n. 1 rose in the following areas:
• Batanes
• the northeastern part of the Cagayan continent (Santa Ana, Gonzaga)
• the eastern part of the Babuyan Islands (Balintang Island, Babuyan Island, Didicas Island and Camiguin Island, including the contiguous islets)
Strong winds may begin to affect the Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Norte as Siony and Tropical Storm Goni, formerly known as Rolly, combine to intensify wind flow on the northeast surface.
Scattered light to moderate rains and sometimes heavy rains can prevail over Pangasinan and a large part of central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, the Bicol region, and parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
Pagasa warned that flooding could still occur in areas with continued rainfall and landslides, especially in areas where erosion would be likely due to significant rains from tropical cyclones Pepito, Quinta and Rolly.
[atm]
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