23 areas under Signal No. 1 as Pepito threatens to intensify into tropical storm

Twenty-three areas, all in Luzon, remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 on Tuesday morning due to Tropical Depression Pepito, which is seen to develop into a tropical storm before its expected evening landfall.

In an 8 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas are under Signal No. 1:

• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar,Infanta,Real) including Polillo Islands
• extreme northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons)
• Catanduanes

Pepito is expected to make landfall over the Aurora-Isabela area on Tuesday evening.

"'PEPITO' may reach tropical storm category before making landfall. However, there remains a possibility that this tropical cyclone makes landfall as a tropical depression," PAGASA said.

At 7 a.m., Pepito was located at 375 kilometers East of Infanta, Quezon with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour and gustiness of up to 70 km/h moving west northwestward at 25 km/h.

According to PAGASA, Pepito  will move west-northwestward and make landfall over the coast of Aurora-Isabela area in the evening.

It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning.

Forecast

In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains are expected over the Bicol Region, Marinduque, Romblon, Quezon, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, mainland Cagayan, Pangasinan, and Benguet, PAGASA said.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains, meanwhile, may be experienced over Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, and the rest of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON.

PAGASA also warned of possible flooding including flashfloods, and rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

It advised its  Regional Services Divisions to issue local thunderstorm or rainfall advisories and heavy rainfall warnings if needed.

High winds (strong to near gale) will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 1, according to PAGASA.

Due to the northeasterly surface wind flow, high to gale-force winds with occasional gusts will be are expected in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and mountainous areas of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

Flooding

Rains from Pepito caused flooding in several areas.

In Lopez, Quezon, portions of the Maharlika Highway became flooded on Tuesday. Floodwaters in some barangays reached waist level.

In Cotabato, rivers overflowed in President Roxas and Magpet. Residents evacuated in Pikit and Kabacan. One person died in Makilala after being caught in a mudslide.

Meanwhile, in Baggao, Cagayan, some bridges were flooded and landslides were reported.

In Metro Manila, fishermen pulled their bancas to safer ground. —KBK/KG, GMA News