MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is still up over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands on Monday as Tropical Depression Emong continues to accelerate towards extreme Northern Luzon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its at 5 a.m. update that “Emong” is forecast to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
“Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” Pagasa said.
“Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels,” it added.
“Emong’s’ track
The center of the tropical depression was last located 530 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora or 560 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
The weather disturbance is moving west northwest at 40 kilometers per hour (kph) and has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
According to Pagasa, areas under TCWS No. 1 will likewise experience strong winds.
The state weather bureau, however, said the projected track and intensity suggests the possibility of hoisting TCWS No. 2 over portions of the localities presently under TCWS No. 1.
Pagasa said “Emong” may intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours, although “intensification is being deterred by its high movement speed.”
The tropical depression is forecast to continue moving generally northwestward until Monday night as it approaches the extreme Northern Luzon-Taiwan area.
Pagasa said that based on the forecast track, the center of the tropical depression may pass close or over the vicinity of the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area on Monday night.
“Emong” may likely exit the Philippine area of responsibility Tuesday morning or afternoon while skirting the southern and southwestern coasts of Taiwan.