Storm signal number 1 raised over Catanduanes

THE state weather bureau has placed Catanduanes under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) number 1, as Tropical Depression Quinta slightly accelerated Saturday morning, October 24, as it moved west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Cagayan. Geophysical and As of 10 a.m. Saturday, Astronomical Services the center of Quinta Administration (Pagasa) was located at 660 kilometers said TCWS 1 may also be east of Catarman, raised over Albay, Northern Samar or 730 Sorsogon, Northern kilometers east of Juban, Samar, and the eastern Sorsogon, with maximum portion of Camarines Sur sustained winds of Saturday afternoon. 55 kilometers per hour

It added that areas (km/h) near the center under TCWS1 will experience and gusts of up to 70 strong to near km/ h. It was moving gale-force winds, while west northwestward at strong to gale-force 30 km/h. winds associated with a Pagasa said Quinta northeasterly surge will will move generally also be experienced over west-northwestward or Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northwestward Saturday, and the northern then will turn westward coastal areas of Ilocos Sunday morning through Norte and mainland Monday, October 26.

The center of Quinta was forecast to make landfall over Bicol Region between Sunday evening and Monday morning, then track westward over the Southern Luzon area on Monday.

It was also forecast to steadily intensify to tropical storm category within 12 hours and may reach severe tropical storm category prior to landfall.

"After crossing the Philippine archipelago, this tropical cyclone may continue intensifying over the West Philippine Sea," said Pagasa.

Today, October 24, Pagasa said the troughs of both Quinta and Severe Tropical Storm Saudel outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, and Car aga.

"Moreover, a stationary front currently extending over extreme northern Luzon associated with the northeasterly surge will bring moderate to heavy rains over Cagayan Valley and the northern portions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte," the weather bureau added.

Pagasa also issued gale warning over the seaboards of northern Luzon, and the western seaboards of Central Luzon, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and northern Palawan, including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands due to rough to very rough seas. "Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for small seacrafts," it sai d.

It added that moderate to rough seas will also prevail over the western seaboard of southern Palawan and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

Pagasa advised mariners of small seacrafts to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. ---(LMY/ SunStar Philippines)