Tropical Storm ‘Kabayan’ makes landfall, brings rains

Tropical storm Kabayan made landfall over Baler-San Luis in Aurora early Friday and is now tracking Central Luzon, the state weather bureau said.

Moderate to heavy rains are seen within the storm’s 300-kilometer radius, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Storm signal No. 2 was raised in Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan and Tarlac.

Signal No. 1 was raised in southern Isabela, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Northern Quezon including Polillo Island, and Metro Manila.

Areas under storm signals were warned of possible flashfloods and landslides.

Kabayan was last tracked by Pagasa in San Jose CIty, Nueva Ecija, or 60 kilometers east of Baler in Aurora.

The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.

Kabayan is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility early Saturday.

Pagasa warned of risky sea travel over the seaboards of northern Luzon and Central Luzon and eastern seaboard of Quezon including Polillo Island.

At 4:30 a.m., Pagasa issued a heavy rainfall warning in parts of Luzon due to Kabayan.

Orange rainfall alert (15-30mm rainfall/hr) was raised in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, Nueva Ecija and Rizal.

Tarlac, Cavite, Pampanga, Batangas and Quezon were placed under yellow rainfall alert (7-15mm rainfall/hr).