Enteng may intensify as it nears WPS; Signal No. 2 in 6 areas

Tropical Storm Enteng in Pagasa’s 5 a.m. weather bulletin released on Tuesday, September 3. (Photo from Pagasa/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi) may further intensify once it crosses the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported on Tuesday morning.

Meantime, Tropical cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) are up over several parts of Luzon.

Signal No. 2  is up over  the following areas:

• Ilocos Norte
• northern part of Ilocos Sur: Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, City of Vigan, Bantay, Santa, Caoayan
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• western portion of mainland Cagayan: Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Pamplona, Alcala, Amulung, Buguey, Solana, Rizal, Claveria, Iguig, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes — including Babuyan Islands (Calayan Islands., Dalupri Islands, and Fuga Islands)

Signal No. 1 is up over the following areas:

• rest of Ilocos Sur
• northern part of La Union: Luna, Santol, San Juan, Bagulin, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Balaoan
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• northern portion of Benguet: Mankayan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay
• Batanes
• rest of mainland Cagayan
• rest of the Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya: Bayombong, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Diadi, Quezon, Solano
• northern portion of Quirino: Aglipay, Saguday, Diffun, Cabarroguis

Tracking Enteng

In its 5:00 a.m. weather forecast, Pagasa said that the center of the tropical storm was tracked over the waters of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph while moving northwest at 25 kph.

“It’s very noticeable that Tropical Storm Enteng slightly weakened when it passed through Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Region, the mountainous areas, where it slightly weakened. But once it reaches the West Philippine Sea later in the morning, Tropical Storm Enteng may intensify again,” Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said in Filipino.

“Enteng is forecast to continue moving generally northwestward over the next 24 hours and is expected to turn westward over the West Philippine Sea starting tomorrow (4 September) until it [reaches] Hainan, China, on Saturday (7 September),” the state weather bureau said.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday morning. It’s expected to intensify into a severe tropical storm by Tuesday afternoon (at the earliest) or Tuesday evening, and into a typhoon by Thursday.

‘Habagat’ and gale warnings

Meanwhile, the enhanced southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” will trigger moderate to intense rains in other parts of Luzon, particularly the western sections, over the next three days.

Gale warnings are up over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern part of Central and Southern Luzon.

Pagasan warned that sea travel is risky for small vessels.