Signal No. 2 remains up over 9 areas as Maring approaches Luzon Strait

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remained raised over nine areas on Monday as Tropical Storm Maring (international name: Kompasu) heads toward Luzon Strait, PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. bulletin.

TCWS No. 2 is in effect over:

1. Batanes;
2. Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
3. the northern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas, Mallig, Quezon);
4. Apayao;
5. Kalinga;
6. Mountain Province;
7. Abra;
8. Ilocos Norte; and
9. Ilocos Sur.

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile still remained hoisted over:

1. the rest of Isabela;
2. Nueva Vizcaya;
3. Quirino;
4. Ifugao;
5. Benguet;
6. La Union;
7. Pangasinan;
8. Aurora;
9. Nueva Ecija;
10. Tarlac;
11. Zambales;
12. Pampanga;
13. Bulacan;
14. the northern portion of Bataan (Samal, Morong, Dinalupihan, Abucay, Orani, Hermosa);
15. the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands; and
16. Calaguas Islands

At 7 a.m., the center of Maring was located at 325 km east of Aparri, Cagayan. From its center, strong winds or higher extend outwards up to 850 km.

Maring has maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 105 km/h, and central pressure of 985 hPa.

The tropical storm decelerated and is moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

Maring is expected to move over the Luzon Strait between Monday afternoon and Tuesday early morning, and pass very close over the Babuyan Islands.

Landfall is possible over mainland northern Cagayan or Maring may just make a close approach over Batanes.

"However, considering the short-period acceleration observed over the past couple of hours, a slightly earlier traverse of Extreme Northern Luzon (i.e., beginning this morning) remains a possibility," PAGASA said.

Maring may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday morning or afternoon, then head for Hainan Island in China where it is expected to make landfall.

Winds

Areas under TCWS No. 2 have damaging gale-force to storm-force winds prevailing or expected within 24 hours as Maring passes the Luzon Strait. This may cause generally light to moderate damage to structures and vegetation.

Those under TCWS No. 1 meanwhile have strong winds prevailing or may expect within 36 hours.

The island, coastal, and upland/mountain localities of Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte, and the rest of Luzon meanwhile may possibly have occasional gusts reaching strong to gale-force in strength due to Maring's expansive wind field and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Rainfall

Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region will "highly likely" have moderate to heavy and at times intense rains.

Central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley meanwhile will possibly have light to moderate and at times heavy rains.

Flooding and landslides may occur in areas prone to these hazards.

Meanwhile, monsoon rains may possibly occur in Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro in the next 24 hours since Maring is enhancing the Southwest Monsoon.

Coastal waters

PAGASA raised a gale warning at 5 a.m. over the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas due to Maring.

The seas will be rough to high (with waves up to 7.5 meters) in the seaboards of areas under TCWS Nos. 2 and 1. Sea travel is risky for all vessels.

Moderate to rough seas meanwhile will prevail in the remaining seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, as well as the northern, eastern, and western seaboards of Mindanao. Sea travel would be risky for small seacraft.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to take the necessary precautions.

The next weather bulletin will be issued at 11 a.m. —KG, GMA News