Moderate to heavy rains are expected to dampen Northern Luzon as Tropical Depression Obet slightly intensified, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, Oct. 21.
In its 2 pm bulletin, the state weather bureau said TD Obet was last tracked 140 kilometer East of Basco, Batanes.
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts of up to 70 kph, and it is moving westward at 20 kph.
Signal no. 1 remain hoisted on the following areas:
- Batanes
- Babuyan Islands
- The northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga)
PAGASA said Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and mainland Cagayan may experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains today and Saturday morning.
While light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
“Prevailing strong to gale-force winds from the Northeast Monsoon will continue over the northern portions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte,“ the state weather bureau said.
PAGASA warned small marinecrafts and mariners that a marine gale warning remains in effect over Northern Luzon.
“In the next 24 hours, the combined effects of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon and the approaching tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Central Luzon (1.5 to 3.5 m) and the western and eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon (1.2 to 3.0 m),“ it added.
According to the forecast of the state weather bureau, TD Obet will pass over Batanes this afternoon and evening and will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday morning or afternoon.
