‘Egay’ Now a Tropical Storm; Signal no. 1 up in Isabela, Cagayan

Manila (PNA) — At least two areas in Northern Luzon is now under public storm warning signal no. 1 as tropical depression “Egay” intensified into tropical storm category as it continues to move in a northwest direction, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday.

PAGASA defines a tropical storm as moderate tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 64 to 118 kph (25 to 75 mph).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 6 a.m, Egay was located at 345 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes (15.7N, 126.6E) packed with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move northwest at 13 kph.

Maintaining its speed and movement, Egay is expected to make landfall in Batanes on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Public storm warning signal no. 1 (30-60 kph winds is expected in at least 36 hours) is hoisted over in Luzon, particularly the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan.

The potential impacts of the winds under signal no.1 were the following:

•No damage to high risk structures.

•Light damage to medium to low risk structures.

•Slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities.

•Some banana plants are tilted, a few downed and leaves are generally damaged.

•Twigs of small trees may be broken.

•Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage.

The estimated rainfall amount is moderate to heavy within the 400 km diameter of the tropical storm.

Fisherfolk are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of Bicol Region and Samar provinces are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides.

Aurelio said most parts of the country including Metro Manila will experience rains due to southwest monsoon or “hangin habagat” enhanced by tropical storm Egay.

For Friday forecast, PAGASA said rains with gusty winds will be experienced over Isabela while Bicol Region and Samar will have cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Zamboanga Peninsula, the rest of Visayas and the provinces of Cagayan, Aurora, Zambales and Bataan while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of country.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail throughout the archipelago with moderate to rough seas.

The state-run weather bureau also issued a gale warning due to the effects of southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical storm “Egay” as the sea condition will be rough to very rough due to strong gale force winds is expected to affect the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas, the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

”Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. (PNA) JBP/CLTC