Typhoon Bising keeps strength as it starts moving away from PH

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Bising (internationally known as Surigae) maintained its strength as it continued moving north Wednesday night, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Bising which was last spotted 355 km east of Calayan, Cagayan, still had maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center with a gustiness of up to 205 kph.

It was moving north at 15 kph.

Pagasa expects Bising to start recurving in the coming hours, predicting it to be around 410 km east of Basco, Batanes by Thursday night and 855 km east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon by Friday night.

By that time, it would have regressed as a severe tropical storm. It would then exit the Philippine area of responsibility between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Despite forecasts it would recurve towards the Pacific Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained in effect in the following areas in Cagayan Valley:

• Batanes

• eastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Aparri, Santa Teresita, Alcala, Amulung, Iguig, Tuguegarao City) including Babuyan Islands

• eastern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Benito Soliven, San Mariano, Ilagan, Gamu, Naguilian)

Those areas can expect wind speeds of around 30 kph to 60 kph within the next 36 hours, which can cause light to medium damage on high-risk structures.

Sea travel is still discouraged especially for small sea craft for the whole seaboard of the Ilocos Region, up to Batanes, then down to Cagayan Valley, eastern parts of Central and Southern Luzon, to the waters north of Bicol Region.

[atm]