PAGASA: 'Igme' now a typhoon; 2 areas under Signal 1

Tropical Storm Igme (international code name Tembin) intensified into a typhoon Monday afternoon even as it continued to move northward slowly, PAGASA said.

 

But PAGASA forecaster Ricky Fabregas said Igme is still not likely to make landfall over the Philippines and may instead make landfall over Taiwan.

 

"Naging typhoon na po siya, nag-intensify na po. Ang pagkilos nito mabagal, pahilaga. Papalayo siya sa atin at ang forecast tatama sa Taiwan," Fabregas said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

As of 3 p.m., Fabregas said Typhoon Igme was estimated at 310 km east of Aparri in Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

 

Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over Isabela and Cagayan, he added.

 

PAGASA defines a typhoon as an intense tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 118 kph.

 

"May kabagalan ang pagkilos nito, may ulan pero hindi malakas ang paghatak sa habagat," Fabregas said.

 

He said the rain from the enhanced monsoon may fall over the western section of Central and Southern Luzon.

 

Rain over masbate

 

Fabregas said there will be rain over Masbate, where search operations are ongoing for Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and two pilots who have remained missing after a plane crash last Saturday.

 

But he said there is little chance of big waves from Igme affecting Masbate as it is inland.

 

"Nasa inland ito, nasa may gitna siya, nasa loob. (Pero) mostly cloudy ang pagtaya ng panahon, may pag-ulan," he said. — RSJ, GMA News