Signal No. 2 still up over northeast Cagayan, Babuyan Is. as Marce keeps strength

Typhoon Marce continues to pick up strength as it moves northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Wednesday.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, Signal No. 2 has been hoisted over the eastern portion of Babuyan islands (Camiguin Is., Babuyan Is.,) and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Buguey).

Signal No. 1 has been raised over the following areas:

• Batanes
• the rest of Cagayan including 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)

The center of Marce was  at 345 kilometers East of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

It is moving Northwestward at 15 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 170 km/h.

According to PAGASA's forecast track, Marce is expected to continue intensifying and may reach its peak intensity Wednesday before it makes landfall or passes close to Babuyan Island or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan from Thursday afternoon to Friday early morning.

It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility region on Friday evening.

"The highest Wind Signal which may be hoisted during the occurrence of Marce is Wind Signal No. 4," PAGASA said.

It added the northeasterly wind flow will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

November 6: Ilocos Region, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.

7 November: Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Zambales, Quezon, and Catanduanes

8 November: Ilocos Region, Isabela, Aurora, and Zambales

"There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge reaching 2.0 to 3.0 m above normal tide levels in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur," PAGASA added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News