3 Luzon dams release water as Julian brings rains

Three dams in Luzon opened some of their gates on Monday to release water amid Typhoon Julian's rains, data from PAGASA showed.

The said dams are Ambuklao and Binga in Benguet, and Magat which straddles Ifugao and Isabela.

At 8 a.m., Ambuklao Dam had one gate open at 0.50 meter. The water level in its reservoir was at 750.51 meters, nearing the 752-meter normal high water level (NHWL).

Binga Dam had two gates open at 1 meter, as its reservoir water level (RWL) was at 574.25 meters, very near the 575-meter NHWL.

Meanwhile, Magat Dam had one gate open at 1 meter. Its water level at the reservoir was at 184.78 meters. The NHWL is 190 meters.

Typhoon Julian passed near Sabtang Island in Batanes on Monday morning, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 was raised over Batanes and the northern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Calayan Is.).

The rest of Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana) were under TCWS No. 3.

TCWS No. 2 meanwhile is in effect over the rest of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao).

TCWS No. 1 on the other hand was hoisted over Benguet, Isabela and other areas in Luzon.

Intense to torrential rains are expected in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte from Monday to Tuesday noon, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. advisory.

Heavy to intense rains will be felt over mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Apayao, Abra, and Benguet.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region. —KG, GMA Integrated News