Dodong maintains strength; Signal No. 1 still up in 12 areas

Twelve areas in Luzon are still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as Tropical Depression Dodong maintained its strength, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas:

• Cagayan
• Isabela
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Northern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, San Manuel, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Agno, Binmaley, Dagupan City, San Jacinto, Mangaldan, Anda)

As of 10:00 a.m., Dodong was located in the vicinity of Allacapan, Cagayan packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 75 km/h and central pressure of 1,000 hPa.

PAGASA said an accumulated rainfall of 50 to 100 mm is expected over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan.

Dodong’s strong winds extend outwards up to 180 km from the center.

It was moving north northwestward at 15 km/h.

Landfall

In Isabela, where Dodong made landfall early Friday morning, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Constante Foronda Jr. said rains were experienced in the province.

According to him, the rains were somehow a "good thing," as the province had experienced a lack of rainfall in the past few days.

“Bumababa rin yung tubig ng Magat Dam. Hopefully, madagdagan, tumaas kaunti yung level dahil kailangan namin sa power generation at para sa irrigation,” he told GTV’s Balitanghali.

(The water level in Magat Dam dipped. Hopefully, the rains will increase the water level because we need it for power generation and irrigation.)

Even though Dodong already passed Isabela, he reminded residents that sailing is still not allowed because the province is under TCSW No. 1.

He advised residents to be alert for possible floods due to Habagat rains.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding and rain-induced landslides, especially in areas that are prone to these hazards and those areas that have experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.

Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) are also possible in areas under TCWS No. 1, PAGASA said.

Flight cancellations

An enhanced Southwest Monsoon, meanwhile, may bring gusty conditions in Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, CALABARZON, Metro Manila, and other areas of Central Luzon.

The bad weather also resulted in flight cancellations, according to the Manila International Airport Authority.

The following flights have been canceled as of 10:35 a.m.:

5J 504/505 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
5J 506/507 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila

Meanwhile, Dodong and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon are expected to result in moderate to rough seas over the eastern (up to 2.5 meters) and western (up to 3.5 m) seaboards of Northern Luzon, as well as the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon (up to 3.5 m).

PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, PAGASA said they should avoid navigating in these conditions.

Dodong is forecast to move westward or west northwestward across the northern portion of mainland Northern Luzon and may emerge over the waters west of Ilocos provinces on Friday afternoon or evening.

The tropical depression will move northwestward over the West Philippine Sea until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday evening or Sunday, PAGASA said.

Outside PAR, Dodong will move generally west northwestward over the waters south of southern China, PAGASA added.

Dodong may reach tropical storm category by Saturday afternoon or evening while over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News