MANILA, Philippines – The center of Tropical Depression Obet has spared the northern portion of Cagayan, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Friday.
According to Pagasa’s 11 a.m. weather update, Obet is now 205 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 55 kilometers per hour.
“Base sa ating latest track, ay nai-spare na nito na tamaan, o direktang tamaan ng sentro ng bagyong si Obet itong hilagang bahagi ng Cagayan. Pag-iingat pa rin ang ating pinapayo sa mga kababayan diyan sa Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao at Ilocos Norte,” said Pagasa weather specialist Raymond Ordinario.
(Based on our latest track, the northern portion of Cagayan has been spared from getting hit, or rather directly getting hit by Obet. We advise our fellow countrymen in Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte to stay safe).
Signal No. 1 remains hoisted in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana and Gonzaga), and gale warnings are still in effect in Batanes, Cagayan, and the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur, said Pagasa.
Pagasa said that Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Cagayan can still expect heavy with at times, intense rains while surrounding areas can expect light to moderate rains.
Ordinario explained that due to the cold winds of the amihan, Obet is unlikely to intensify while inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR). However, it is forecast to intensify into a storm after it leaves PAR.