Signal No. 1 still up over Kalayaan Islands as Quinta intensifies, moves toward West Philippine Sea

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still up over Kalayaan Islands as Typhoon Quinta further intensifies as it moves westward over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Tuesday.

In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather bureau said the eye of Quinta was located 310 kilometers north northwest of Kalayaan Islands, Palawan at 4 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 155 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph. It is moving westward at 30 kph.

PAGASA said Quinta will move generally west-northwestward or westward towards the central portion of Vietnam and is expected to further intensify over the West Philippine Sea and reach its peak intensity within 12 hours.

Hazards

PAGASA said light to moderate, with at times, heavy rains will prevail over Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Batanes, Cagayan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan (including Calamian, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands), Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi from Tuesday to Wednesday morning.

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

Strong breeze to near gale conditions will also be experienced in Kalayaan Islands, the weather agency said.

PAGASA added strong breeze to gale conditions associated with the northeasterlies will prevail in Batanes, northern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte, while occasional gusts associated with the outer circulation of Quinta will be experienced over MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, and the western section of Luzon.

Moreover, rough to very rough seas will be experienced over the northern and western seaboards of Luzon, while moderate to rough seas will prevail over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Palawan including Cuyo Islands, the southern seaboards of Mindoro Provinces, and the western seaboards of Western Visayas.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA said.

Further, PAGASA said a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility has developed.

The tropical depression was located 2,125 km east of Luzon at 4 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It is moving north northwestward at 15 kph.

PAGASA said the weather disturbance is likely to enter PAR on Wednesday or Thursday.

Once inside PAR, the tropical depression will be named “Rolly.”—LDF, GMA News