Batanes, Babuyan Islands still under Signal No. 1 as TD Emong moves away

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 remained hoisted Monday night over Batanes and Babuyan Islands even as Tropical Depression Emong continued to move away from Batanes,  according to the 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin, of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Emong was last spotted over the coastal waters of Itbayat, Batanes. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 70 kph, moving west-northwest at 40 kph.

Pagasa said the tropical depression may bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, raising the possibility of isolated flash floods and rain-induced landslides.

Strong winds — that is, a strong breeze to a near gale — will continue to prevail over areas under Signal No. 1, but it will gradually weaken on Tuesday as Emong moves away from extreme Northern Luzon.

Seas will be rough off the coasts of areas under Signal No. 1 as well as off mainland Cagayan, Pagasa said. Sea travel would be risky, especially on small vessels.

Emong is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday morning and make landfall over Fujian or Guangdong Province in southeastern China on Tuesday afternoon or early evening.

Pagasa said the tropical depression could still intensify into a tropical storm prior to landfall over mainland China. After landfall, Emong will “rapidly weaken into a remnant low.”

[atm]