Signal No. 1 lifted in Pangasinan as Pepito intensifies into severe tropical storm —PAGASA

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was lifted in the western portion of Pangasinan as Pepito intensified into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday afternoon, PAGASA said.

In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather bureau said the center of Pepito was seen 295 kilometers west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan at 4 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 95 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. It is moving westward at 15 kph.

PAGASA said Pepito is forecasted to move generally west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday, before slowing down and turning northwestward on Thursday.

Pepito will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning or afternoon, PAGASA added.

Hazards

PAGASA said light to moderate, with at times, heavy rains will be experienced over Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan from Wednesday to Thursday morning.

PAGASA advised affected residents to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

No TCWS is currently in effect, however, PAGASA said high to gale-force winds due to the northeasterly surface wind flow will still be experienced over Northern Luzon, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

It added that gale warning is also in effect over the entire seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, the seaboard of northern Quezon including Polillo Islands, the western seaboards of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands) and Palawan (including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands) due to rough to very rough seas.

Meanwhile, moderate to rough seas will prevail over the  eastern seaboards of southern Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region.

PAGASA advised those with small sea crafts to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.—LDF, GMA News