MANILA, Philippines — Tropical depression Maymay will trigger rains over parts of the Philippines as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted in parts of Luzon on Wednesday, said the state weather bureau.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Maymay is currently 305 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 55 kilometers per hour.
There will also be rain over northern Luzon, as well as areas under TCWS Signal No. 1 which include:
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Extreme northern portion of Quezon, including the Polillo Islands
Pagasa warned areas under TCWS Signal No. 1 that there will be strong breezes to near gale strength winds. State meteorologists also warned of minimal to minor threat to lives and properties due to the strong winds.
“Inaasahan pa rin natin na magiging maulan sa malaking bahagi ng Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao at ganun din sa Batanes. Habang magiging maulap ang kalangitan na may mahina hanggang sa katamtaman na pag-ulan, pagkidlat at pagkulog particular dito naman sa nalalabing bahagi ng Cordillera, nalalabing bahagi ng Cagayan Valley, kasama ang Aurora at gayun din ho sa Ilocos Norte,” said Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina in the bureau’s morning weather forecast.
(We expect that rain will prevail over large parts of Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao and Batanes. Meanwhile there will be cloudy skies and moderate rains, lighting and thunder particularly here in the remaining part of Cordillera, remaining part of Cagayan, including Auroras as well as Ilocos Norte).
A gale warning is also raised over the the seaboards of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of central and southern Luzon, which means it is dangerous for seafarers with small boats to go out into the sea.
According to Badrina, there is also a chance that Maymay will weaken into a low pressure area (LPA) before it makes landfall in the vicinity of Aurora on Thursday, but rains are still expected to prevail on Wednesday to Thursday.
Pagasa is also monitoring two other weather disturbances. One is an LPA inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and is currently 520 kilometers west of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. State meteorologists said that the LPA can develop into a tropical cyclone but is forecast to leave PAR.
There is also a tropical depression outside of PAR, which is currently 1,920 kilometers east of southern Luzon, said Pagasa. It may also further intensify as it enters PAR by Thursday or Friday.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms.
Areas affected by heavy rains are cautioned by Pagasa of possible landslides or flash floods.