'Ramon' intensifies
More areas were placed under tropical cyclone warnings as storm ‘Ramon’ (international name ‘Kalmaegi’) further intensified before its impending landfall over Cagayan province.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of Ramon at 160 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan before Monday noon.
The cyclone has intensified further with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph and is moving westnorthwest at 10 kph.
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said Ramon could become a severe tropical storm ahead of its landfall over Cagayan province, most likely in the municipalities of Santa Ana or Gonzaga, between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
Tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Isabela, particularly Sta. Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Cabagan, Sto. Tomas, Quezon, Delfino Albano, Tumauini and Divilacan, northern part of Ilocos Norte, namely Pagudpud, Burgos, Bangui, Dumalneg and Adams, and the provinces of Apayao and Kalinga.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was up in Batanes, rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern Aurora, particularly Dilasag, Casiguran and Dinalungan, and the rest of Isabela province.
Estareja said moderate with occasional heavy rains were being felt over the eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela, while light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains were affecting the rest of Cagayan and Isabela, Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Aurora, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Abra, and Ilocos Norte as early as Monday morning.
By Tuesday, “Ramon” could have already hit land and will continue to bring light to moderate with occasional heavy rains over northern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
Meanwhile, light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will prevail over Isabela, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Sur, and the rest of Cagayan.
Aside from tropical cyclone warnings, Estareja said a gale warning is also in effect as sea travel is risky for small sea crafts over the western coast of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to rough seas triggered by the combined effects of Ramon and northeast monsoon or 'amihan.'
Ramon will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the low pressure area (LPA) at 1,605 km east of Eastern Visayas will likely enter the country’s area of responsibility on Tuesday, Nov. 19, Estareja said.
PAGASA is closely monitoring this weather disturbance for potential development into a tropical cyclone.
It will be named ‘Sarah’ if it intensifies into a tropical depression while inside the PAR.
Based on Monday’s forecast, Estareja said the LPA will likely move near or traverse Northern and Central Luzon or Bicol Region in the coming days.