Ramil maintains strength while moving over mainland Bicol
Pagasa weather update.
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Ramil has maintained its strength while moving west-northwestward over the mainland Bicol at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour (kph), the state weather bureau reported on Saturday evening.
In its 8 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ramil is still packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 65 kph, with gustiness of 110 kph.
READ: DOH puts hospitals, health centers on code white due to Ramil
Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:
Luzon:
- Southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue)
- Southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan, Maddela)
- Southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda)
- Northern and central portions of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Baler, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
- Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Catanduanes
- Northern and eastern portions of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagñay, Tigaon)
- Eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Manito, Tiwi, Malinao)
- Northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon)
Visayas:
- Northern portion of Northern Samar (Laoang, Pambujan, San Roque, Mondragon, Rosario, Lavezares, San Jose, Catarman, Bobon, Palapag)
Signal No. 1
Luzon:
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- The rest of Isabela
- The rest of Quirino
- The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- The rest of Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat)
- Eastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, City of Tarlac, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona)
- Eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
- Northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc)
- The rest of Camarines Sur
- The rest of Albay
- The rest of Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- Ticao Island
Visayas:
- Northern Samar
- Northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, San Policarpo, Oras, Arteche, Maslog)
- Northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño, San Jose de Buan)
Ramil is forecast to continue moving west-northwestward over the landmass or coastal waters of Bicol Region this Saturday evening before emerging over the waters near Polillo Islands early morning on Sunday. It will then pass close to or over the Polillo Islands, then make a final landfall in the vicinity of Aurora on Sunday morning or early afternoon.
“The possibility of landfall over northern Quezon or southern Isabela instead of Aurora is also not ruled out based on the forecast confidence cone,” Pagasa said.
According to Pagasa, there is a possibility that Ramil will be downgraded to the tropical depression category while passing over the Bicol Region. Slight intensification is not ruled out before its landfall over Aurora.
During its passage over Northern Luzon, Ramil is expected to maintain strength or slightly weaken due to the frictional effects of mountainous terrain.
Ramil is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday morning. /mr
