Pepito weakens into severe tropical storm; Signal No. 1 raised in 5 Luzon areas

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was raised in several areas in Luzon as Pepito (international name: Man-Yi) weakened into a severe tropical storm over the West Philippine Sea late Monday morning.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas were under TCWS No.1:

• Ilocos Norte, 
• Ilocos Sur, 
• La Union, 
• the western portion of Pangasinan (Burgos, Dasol, Sual, Mabini, Binmaley, San Fabian, Dagupan City, Lingayen, Labrador, City of Alaminos, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Infanta, Bugallon, Mangaldan), and 
• the western portion of Abra (Danglas, Bangued, Langiden, La Paz, Pidigan, San Quintin, San Isidro, Pilar, Peñarrubia, Villaviciosa, Lagayan)

Strong winds from 39 to 61 km/h may be expected in these areas within the next 36 hours. Wind impacts may result in minimal to minor threat to life and property.

The center of Pepito was last spotted 270 km west of Batac, Ilocos Norte, with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/h.

It was moving west northwestward at 20 km/h, and has strong to storm-force winds that extend outwards up to 280 km from the center.

Coastal waters

According to PAGASA, a gale warning was hoisted over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon due to Pepito.

However, the threat of storm surge inundation has already ceased as the tropical cyclone continues to move away from the country.

Up to very rough sea conditions (up to 4.5 meters) may still be experienced over the seaboard of Batanes, thus sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.

Track, intensity

Pepito will continue moving west northwestward on Monday over the West Philippine Sea until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this noon or afternoon.

Outside the PAR region, the tropical cyclone will turn more westward or west southwestward on Tuesday under the influence of an incoming northeasterly wind surge.

Pepito will also continue to weaken as it moves over the West Philippine Sea due to the incoming northeasterly wind surge creating an unfavorable environment.

It may become a remnant low on Wednesday, said PAGASA.

One person reportedly died in Daet, Camarines Norte due to Pepito, according to its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) on Sunday.

All in all, tropical cyclones Nika, Ofel, and Pepito have affected a total of 1,145,942 individuals or 295,576 families in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday called on Filipinos to unite and pray amid the multiple tropical cyclones that have affected the country in the past few weeks.—AOL, GMA Integrated News