Magat Dam opening 1 floodgate at 12 noon —PAGASA

The Magat Dam in Northern Luzon is set to open one of its floodgates at 12 noon Saturday, to release excess water due to rains spawned by Tropical Storm Karding.

In a flood forecast issued at  9 a.m., PAGASA's hydrological division said the opening of one gate of the reservoir at 1 meter discharges approximately 200 cubic meters of water per second (cms).

PAGASA said areas that are likely to be affected by floods include:

Ifugao province

• Alfonso Lista town

Province of Isabela

• The municipalities of Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Naguilian, and Gamu.

Magat Dam is located along the Magat River, a major tributary of Cagayan River. It has an elevation at full supply level (FSL) of 193 meters above sea level (masl).

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, Magat's water level was at 187.70 meters.

PAGASA said that rainfall forecast in the next 24 hours is between 5 to 10 millimeters, which is still within average level.

As of 3 a.m. Saturday, the center of Karding was estimated at 805 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, with a maximum sustained winds of 85km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.

It was moving West Southwestward at 15 km/h. The enhanced Southwest Monsoon is affecting western sections of Southern Luzon, and the Visayas. —LBG, GMA News