TD Igme prompts Signal No. 1 in Batanes

MANILA, Philippines — The low-pressure area that formed off Batanes early Friday morning developed into Tropical Depression “Igme” on Friday afternoon, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Batanes.

As of 4 p.m., Igme was located 530 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It was traveling at 15 kph west northwestward and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday.

But while Igme is within PAR, it could cause downpours in the extreme northern Luzon over the weekend, Pagasa said. It would also enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing “gusty conditions,” or heavy rainfall, over Ilocos region, Babuyan Islands and the provinces of Bataan and Zambales until Sunday.