TD Vicky out of PAR; Signal No. 1 still up on Kalayaan Islands

From Himawari IR-1 via Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Although Tropical Depression Vicky has already exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), Tropical Wind Cyclone Signal No. 1 remains hoisted on Kalayaan Islands as of Sunday afternoon.

In its weather bulletin on Sunday afternoon, December 20, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Vicky was located 70 kilometers southeast of Pagasa Island in Palawan.

It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is moving westward at 15 kph.

Due to this, Pagasa said the Kalayaan Islands may still experience rain showers on Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the southwest monsoon would continue to affect the Northern Luzon area while the cold front’s tail-end would persist in the eastern part of Central and Southern Luzon.

In its severe weather bulletin, Pagasa said moderate to heavy with at times heavy rains are expected over mainland Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian Islands, and Kalayaan Islands on Sunday night.

Light to moderate with heavy rains over the Babuyan Islands and the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region, the state weather bureau added.

“Flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged periods of rainfall, especially in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards and in localities that received significant antecedent rainfall over the past couple of days or weeks,” Pagasa said. [ac]