Signal No. 2 remains over 4 Luzon areas as Paeng moves over West Philippine Sea

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 remains hoisted over four areas in Luzon as Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) continues to move west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said late Sunday morning.

In its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, PAGASA said TCWS No. 2 was raised over the following areas:

• La Union;
• the central and western portions of Pangasinan (San Fabian, San Jacinto, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, Bautista, Alcala, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Basista, San Carlos City, Calasiao, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Binmaley, Aguilar, Bugallon, Lingayen, Labrador, Infanta, Dasol, Mabini, Sual, City of Alaminos, Burgos, Agno, Bani, Bolinao, Anda, Bayambang);
• the northwestern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Mayantoc, San Jose, Moncada); and
• the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba).

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

Meanwhile, the following areas are under TCWS No. 1:

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
• Isabela;
• Nueva Vizcaya;
• Quirino;
• Apayao;
• Ifugao;
• Mountain Province;
• Kalinga;
• Abra;
• Benguet;
• Aurora;
• Bulacan;
• Nueva Ecija;
• Pampanga;
• the rest of Tarlac;
• the rest of Zambales;
• Bataan;
• Ilocos Norte;
• Ilocos Sur;
• the rest of Pangasinan;
• Metro Manila;
• Batangas;
• Cavite;
• Laguna;
• Rizal;
• the northern and central portions of Quezon (Lucena City, Pagbilao, Infanta, Tiaong, Unisan, Plaridel, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Mauban, Dolores, General Nakar, Perez, Agdangan, Atimonan, Real) including Pollilo Islands;
• the northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Paluan, Sablayan) including Lubang Islands; and
• the northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro (Naujan, Puerto Galera, Victoria, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud).

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

At 10 a.m., Paeng was located 225 km west northwest of Iba, Zambales or 240 km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 105 km/h, and central pressure of 990 hPa.

At present, it is moving west northwestward at 25 km/h.

It also has strong to gale-force winds that extend outwards up to 650 km from the center.

Rainfall

Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Pangasinan, Batanes, and the northern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands may possibly have moderate to heavy rains on Sunday.

PAGASA said Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Camarines Provinces, Western Visayas, and the rest of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon may experience light to light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

Flooding and rain-induced landslides may slowly subside except in areas with significant antecedent rainfall or those still having heavy rainfall.

Gale warning

Moreover, a marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Luzon and the western and eastern seaboards of Visayas due to the surge of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and Paeng.

PAR exit

According to PAGASA’s projection, Paeng may track generally west southwestward in the next 12 hours while decelerating before turning north northwestward or northwestward through Tuesday.

By Wednesday, Paeng will begin to turn west, northwestward towards southern China.

Paeng is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning or afternoon, PAGASA said.

Further, Paeng is forecast to re-intensify into a severe tropical storm within 24 hours and may reach typhoon category by Monday evening or on Tuesday morning while over the West Philippine Sea.

However, it may then weaken by late Tuesday as the tropical cyclone encounters another surge of the Amihan, PAGASA said.

Tropical Depression outside PAR

Meanwhile, PAGASA said that the tropical depression east of Northeastern Mindanao may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning and will be named Queenie.

As of 10 a.m., the tropical depression was spotted 1,250 km east of Northeastern Mindanao.

It has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1004 hPa. It is moving west northwestward 15 km/h.

It also has strong winds extending outwards up to 110 km from the center.

PAGASA said the tropical depression has maintained its strength as it continues to move westwards.

“This tropical depression is forecast to track southwestward in the next 24 hours before gradually accelerating westward over the Philippines,” it said.

“A turn to the west-northwestward may occur by Tuesday as it approaches the sea east of the Visayas. This tropical cyclone is forecast to remain as a tropical depression until Tuesday and may weaken into a remnant low on Wednesday or Thursday,” it added.

According to PAGASA, the tropical depression “is unlikely to directly affect the country throughout the forecast period.”

 —Mel Matthew Doctor/KG/LBG, GMA News