PAGASA: Marce stronger, Signal No. 2 over northeast Cagayan

Typhoon Marce has become even stronger as it moved west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea, the weather bureau PAGASA said on Tuesday night.

According to PAGASA's 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, Marce was spotted 415 km east-northeast of Echague, Isabela or 395 km east of Tuguegarao City with maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

It was moving northwestward at 15 kph.

Signal No. 2 has been raised over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, affecting Santa Ana and Gonzaga. 

The following areas, meanwhile, are under Signal No. 1: 

• Batanes
• the rest of Cagayan 
• Babuyan Islands
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod)
• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora)

Based on the forecast track, Marce will make landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan on Thursday (7 November) afternoon or evening. 

It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Friday evening but it is expected to continue intensifying and may reach its peak intensity before making landfall over Babuyan Islands or Cagayan.