Carina maintains strength, to intensify Habagat -PAGASA

Tropical Storm Carina (international name: Gaemi) maintained its strength Sunday afternoon as it remained almost stationary over the Philippine Sea, from where it would enhance the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.

According to PAGASA's 5 p.m. bulletin, Carina was 365 kilometers northeast of Aurora's Casiguran town with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 115 kph, and a central pressure of 996 hPa.

The storm has strong to gale-force winds which extend outwards up to 260 kms from the center.

No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) were in effect as of posting time.

However, Wind Signal No. 1 may be raised over extreme Northern Luzon and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, possibly by Sunday night or Monday.

Meanwhile, rain could be expected over Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of Isabela until Monday afternoon.

PAGASA said the Habagat, enhanced by Carina, and a tropical depression (formerly Butchoy) would bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

Sunday to Monday afternoon

• Mimaropa,
• Bicol Region,
• Western Visayas,
• Northern Samar, and
• the northern portion of Samar

From Monday noon to Tuesday afternoon

• Zambales,
• Bataan,
• Metro Manila,
• CALABARZON,
• MIMAROPA,
• Bicol Region, and
• Visayas.

From Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon:

• Ilocos Region,
• Central Luzon,
• Metro Manila,
• CALABARZON,
• MIMAROPA,
• Bicol Region, and
• Visayas.

In the next 24 hours, Carina and the enhanced Habagat would also bring moderate to rough seas over the coastal waters of the northern and eastern seaboard of the country (1.5-3.5 m), and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon (1.5-3.0 m).

Small vessels were advised to avoid venturing out to sea due to these conditions.

Track, intensity

According to PAGASA, Carina may become a severe tropical storm by Sunday night and reach the typhoon category on Monday evening.

"The tropical storm is forecast to steadily intensify over the next four days due to favorable environment. Rapid intensification within the forecast period is also possible,” PAGASA said.

Over the Philippine Sea, Carina is seen to move generally north-northwestward to northward from Sunday until Tuesday.

Carina would remain far from the Philippine landmass and exit the  Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday night (July 24) or  Thursday early morning (July 25) while moving near the islands of the  Ryukyu Archipelago. — DVM, GMA Integrated News