MANILA, Philippines — Five provinces were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as typhoon Jenny continues to intensify, the state weather bureau said on Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its 11 a.m. bulletin, identified the following areas under Signal No. 1:
- Batanes
- Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands
- Northern and eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Santo Tomas)
- Apayao
- Northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Carasi, Vintar, Burgos, Dumalneg, Bangui, Pagudpud, Adams)
According to Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja, the typhoon was last spotted 600 kilometers (kms) east of Calayan, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.
It continues to move northwestward at a speed of 15 kph.
“Papalapit pa rin sa may extreme northern Luzon ang sentro nitong si typhoon Jenny. As of 10 in the morning, 600 kms ito east of Calayan, Cagayan at patuloy na lumalakas,” said Estareja.
(The center of typhoon Jenny is still approaching extreme northern Luzon. As of 10 in the morning, it is seen 600 km east of Calayan, Cagayan, and continues to strengthen.)
He added that the trough or extension of Jenny is now affecting many parts of Cagayan Valley, Aurora, and some parts of the Bicol region.
Jenny may reach its peak intensity by Tuesday, and a slightly weakening trend may begin by mid-Wednesday, said Estareja.
Rough weather conditions are still expected in Batanes on Wednesday and Thursday, as these are the days when Jenny will be closest to the country’s landmass.
The possibility of placing Batanes under Signal No. 3 is likewise not ruled out, he added.
“Pinakamalapit ito sa ating kalupaan dito pa rin sa lalawigan ng Batanes. Nasa 200 to 300 km po ‘yung distansya ng mismong mata nitong si bagyong Jenny mula doon sa Batanes by Wednesday and Thursday,” he said.
READ: Pagasa: Jenny now a severe tropical storm
(It is closest to our landmass here in the province of Batanes. The eye of typhoon Jenny is 200 to 300 km away from Batanes by Wednesday and Thursday.)
Estareja furthered that Jenny may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the enhanced southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, will continue to bring rains over the western portions of central Luzon, southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the next three days.
Gale warning alerts are also still in effect over the seaboard of Batanes and Babuyan Islands.