Storm Siony expected to make landfall in Batanes; LPA spotted off Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is still up over Batanes and Babuyan Islands even as as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) sees Severe Tropical Storm Siony exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Friday night.

Pagasa said areas under TCWS No. 2  are currently experiencing “damaging gale-to storm-force winds,” while those under TCWS No. 1 are experiencing “strong breeze to near gale conditions.”

Meanwhile, a low pressure area outside PAR was last spotted 1,515 kilometers east of Mindanao. It is forecast to move generally west-northwest or northwest and may enter the PAR this Friday afternoon or evening.

Landfall, exit

Pagasa, in its  5 a.m. weather update, said  the storm was expected to make landfall  in Batanes, most likely in the vicinity of Itbayat Island Friday morning as it continues to move west-northwest.

“It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight. It will then turn southwestward tomorrow morning over the sea to the southwest of Taiwan and move over the West Philippine Sea towards the Paracel Islands area,” the state weather bureau said.

TCWS No. 1, meanwhile, is up over the following areas:

– northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes)

– northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan)

– northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg, Burgos, Vintar, Pasuquin, Bacarra)

Storm’s track

At 4 a.m., the center of the severe tropical storm was spotted 60 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes or 70 km east of Itbayat, Batanes.

It was moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) and has maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

Pagasa dded that Siony is expected to either maintain its strength or slightly intensity within the next 24 hours.

Beyond the 24-hour period, the storm will significantly weaken due to increasingly unfavorable conditions associated with a surge of the northeasterlies over the West Philippine Sea.

It may then be downgraded to a low pressure area on Monday.

Friday weather forecast

Siony will bring moderate to heavy rains over areas under TCWS No. 2 and light to moderate with at times heavy rains over areas under TCWS No. 1, according to Pagasa.

The weather bureau also warned that flash floods and landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas identified in geohazard maps as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

New threat: Tonyo

The weather bureau said the approaching LPA is heading towards Eastern Visayas and may likely reach the area Saturday afternoon or evening.

Pagasa said this weather disturbance may develop into a tropical depression with the local name “Tonyo” within the next 48 to 72 hours.

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