Signal No. 3 remains up over parts of Batanes, Babuyan Islands due to Neneng
Severe Tropical Storm Neneng (international name: Nesat) maintained its strength as it moved away from Babuyan Islands, while Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 remains hoisted over parts of Batanes and Babuyan Islands, PAGASA said on Sunday morning.
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said TCWS No. 3 is still raised over:
- the southern portion of Batanes (Basco, Mahatao, Uyugan, Ivana, Sabtang); and
- Babuyan Islands.
These areas have storm-force winds prevailing or are expected within the next 18 hours. Wind impacts may also result in moderate to significant threat to life and property, PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, TCWS No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:
- the rest of Batanes;
- the rest of Cagayan;
- Apayao;
- the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Lagayan); and
- Ilocos Norte.
Gale-force winds are prevailing or are expected in these areas within the next 24 hours. Wind impacts may also result in minor to moderate threat to life and property.
TCWS No. 1 is also up over the following areas:
- the northern and central portions of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Aurora, Luna, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Dinapigue, City of Cauayan);
- Kalinga;
- the rest of Abra;
- Mountain Province;
- the northern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Mayoyao, Hungduan, Banaue); and
- the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Bantay, City of Vigan, Santa, Caoayan, Narvacan, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Burgos, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo, Cervantes, Suyo, Sigay, Santa Cruz).
Strong winds are prevailing or are expected in these areas within the next 36 hours. Wind impacts may also result in minimal to minor threat to life and property.
PAGASA said the center of Neneng was last spotted at 7 a.m. in the vicinity of Calayan (Calayan Is.), Cagayan (19.5°N, 120.9°E).
It has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and central pressure of 985 hPa.
PAGASA said Neneng’s present movement is west northwestward at 20 km/h.
It also has strong to storm-force winds extending outwards up to 550 km from the center.
Track, intensity
PAGASA said Neneng may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday night, based on forecast track.
Further intensification into a typhoon, however, is likely by Monday as it moves over the West Philippine Sea.
Neneng will also continue moving westward or west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea until early Monday morning, then turn and move generally west southwestward or southwestward for the remainder of Monday through Wednesday morning.
Rainfall, winds
Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are likely over Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands until Sunday noon.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are likely over Abra, Kalinga, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur, and the rest of Cagayan, and light to moderate with at times heavy rains are possible over the Batanes, Mountain Province, rest of Ilocos Sur, and the northern portion of Isabela.
From noon through late afternoon on Sunday, moderate to heavy rains are possible over Ilocos Norte, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains possible over Apayao, Abra, and Ilocos Sur.
The weather bureau said that scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.
The trough of Neneng and the convergence of its circulation with the southwesterly winds induced by the tropical storm may also bring occasional rains today over the western portions of Visayas and Mimaropa and the northern and western portions of Mindanao.
Induced southwesterly winds, on the other hand, may also bring occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength today over most of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the eastern portions of Central Luzon, especially in coastal and mountainous or upland localities of areas where TCWS are in effect.
Coastal waters
Under the influence of the surge of northeasterly surface wind flow, a marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.
This surge and the approaching tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas (2.0 to 3.5 m) over the eastern and western seaboards of Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon.
PAGASA warned that such conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners were also advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea or avoid navigating if possible.
Flooding
Some parts of Cagayan were flooded and had their power cut off as Neneng (international name: Nesat) brought heavy rains on Sunday.
"Out of 16 barangays, mayroong totally na-flood at partially flooded. Mayroong lagpas tao ang baha. May ilan na nasa bubong na," Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer in Santa Ana, Cagayan Michael Villamin said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday morning.
(Out of 16 barangays, there are some that were totally flooded, while others were partially flooded. In some areas, floodwaters were beyond a man's height. Some residents had to go up to their rooftops.)
A few domestic flights were also canceled on Sunday due to the bad weather caused by Neneng. —KG, GMA News