‘Igme’ intensifies into storm

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 5:32 p.m., 19 August 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical depression “Igme” has intensified into a tropical storm and remained almost stationary for the previous six hours, the state weather bureau said in its bulletin at 4 p.m.

Public storm warning signal No. 1 remained hoisted on Isabela and Cagayan, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, or Pagasa, said.

As of 4 p.m., Igme was moving north slowly at 315 kilometers east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and with gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Rainfall amount was estimated at 5-10 mm per hour (moderate-heavy) within the 400-km diameter of the tropical storm.
Igme is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring light to moderate rains over rest of northern Luzon (particularly Benguet, Baguio, Pangasinan, La Union, IIocos region) as well as central and southern Luzon, especially the western section, Pagasa said.
Meanwhile, residents living in northern Luzon, especially in low-lying and mountainous areas, were also alerted against possible flash floods and landslides.
Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of central and southern Luzon due to “Igme” and the southwest monsoon.