‘Josie’ slightly intensifies, threatens Ilocos provinces

Photo from https://www1.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php/satellite-images#coms-ri

Tropical depression “Josie” slightly intensified on Saturday afternoon and was headed towards the Ilocos Region.

In its 2 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that Josie may dump moderate to heavy rains over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Zambales, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija.

Signal number 1 has been raised in Batanes, Northern Cagayan, including Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern part of Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and northern portion of Abra.

The state weather bureau also warned Josie may make landfall in Ilocos Norte in the next hours.

As of 1 p.m., Josie was located at 85 kilometers west of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte and was moving east-southeast at 15 kph.

It sustained maximum winds of up to 55 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Residents in affected areas, especially those living in river channels, were advised to prepare against possible flooding and landslide, the advisory read.

Meanwhile, light to moderate and occasionally heavy rains may prevail over Metro Manila, Calabarzon and the rest of Luzon.