Signal No. 2 raised over Cagayan as Marce gets stronger

Photo courtesy of Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Marce has further intensified over the Philippine Sea, prompting the state weather bureau to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over the northeastern portion of Cagayan province.

Among the Cagayan areas under TCWS No. 2 are Santa Ana and Gonzaga, based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) 11 p.m. cyclone update.

Meanwhile, the following areas remain under TCWS No. 1:

• Batanes
• The rest of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• The northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod)
• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• The northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora)

Pagasa reported that Marce was last spotted some 415 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Echague, Isabela, or 395 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

It is moving west-northwest at 15 km per hour, carrying maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and up to 170 kph gusts.

The state weather service’s forecast also said that Marce is expected to make landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan on Thursday (November 7) afternoon or evening.

“Marce is expected to continue intensifying and may reach its peak intensity before making landfall over Babuyan Islands or Cagayan,” Pagasa disclosed.

It added that the typhoon may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility region on Friday (November 8) evening.