Signal No. 2 up over 3 areas in northern Luzon as Neneng keeps strength

Storm Signal No. 2 has been hoisted over three areas in northern Luzon as Typhoon Neneng maintains strength while moving west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Sunday afternoon.

According to the bureau's 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, Signal No. 2 is raised over the following areas:

• Batanes
• the western portion of Babuyan Islands (Dalupiri Is., Calayan Is., Panuitan Is., Babuyan Is.)
• the northwestern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Burgos, Pagudpud, Pasuquin, Bacarra)

Areas under Signal No. 2 are experiencing gale-force winds or may expect such condition in the next 24 hours. Winds may also lead to minor to moderate threat to life and property.

The western portion of Babuyan Islands was earlier under Signal No. 3.

The following areas are under Signal No. 1:

• the western portion of Cagayan (Allacapan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Rizal, Lasam)
• Apayao
• the northern portion of Abra (San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Lagangilang, Danglas, La Paz, Dolores, Lacub, Tineg, Lagayan, Bangued)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Magsingal, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Sinait, San Ildefonso, City of Vigan, Cabugao, Caoayan, San Juan, Bantay, Santo Domingo)

These areas have strong winds prevailing or expected within 36 hours. Winds may also result in minimal to minor threat to life and property.

As of 4 p.m., Neneng was located 210 km West Northwest of Calayan, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h and and central pressure of 975 hPa. It is moving westwards at 15 km/h.

It also has strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 330 km from the center.

At 8 p.m., the eye of the typhoon left the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Some roads and bridges in the Ilocos and Cagayan regions are currently impassable due to Neneng's effects, according to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that the government is “watching closely” Neneng's progress.

“Government assets are in place to deal with the aftermath and ensure the primary needs of those affected, especially food, safe drinking water, and electricity,” the President wrote on Twitter.

“Nevertheless, to the provinces in the North that have felt the effects, help is on the way. We encourage everyone to follow the directives of your LGUs and MDRRMCs,” he added. 

Heavy rainfall

Moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Batanes, Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur on Sunday.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Babuyan Islands, the rest of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides may result in areas prone to these hazards.

Moreover, the trough of Neneng and the convergence of its circulation with the southwesterly winds induced by the typhoon may also bring occasional rains today over the western portions of Visayas and Mimaropa and the northern and western portions of Mindanao.

Severe winds

According to PAGASA, winds of up to gale-force strength may prevail within any of the areas where Signal No. 2 is hoisted.

Moreover, strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) will be experienced within any of the areas where Signal No. 1 is currently in effect.

The induced southwesterly winds may also bring occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength today over most of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the eastern portion of Central Luzon, especially in coastal and mountainous/upland localities of these areas, PAGASA added.

Coastal waters

PAGASA said that a marine gale warning remains in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon due to the influence of the surge of northeasterly surface wind flow.

The surge and the tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas (2.0 to 3.5 m) over the western seaboard of Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon.

PAGASA said such conditions may be risky for those using small seacraft.

Mariners were advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions, it said.

Track, intensity outlook

PAGASA’s projections said Neneng will continue moving westward or west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea until Monday early morning, then turn and move generally west southwestward or southwestward for the remainder of Monday through Wednesday morning.

On the forecast track, the typhoon may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) late Monday afternoon or evening.

Further intensification is likely as this tropical cyclone moves over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said. — BM, GMA News