Signal No. 1 up over Batanes due to ‘Liwayway’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday afternoon raised Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 in Batanes as Tropical Storm “Liwayway” continued to affect the country.

Liwayway was spotted 320 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran town in Aurora.

It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) with a gustiness reaching up to 80 kph as it moved north-northwest at 30 kph.

Landfall remains unlikely with Liwayway expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday or Thursday.

Between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, the storm is expected to bring light to moderate with intermittent heavy rainfall over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands and Batanes.

A gale warning was raised in Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon.

Another weather disturbance

Meanwhile, another low pressure area was spotted 500 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales.

This may develop into a tropical depression, Pagasa said.

Southwest monsoon, meanwhile, will bring scattered light to moderate rains with at times heavy rain showers over Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas on Monday evening.

/atm