Tropical Depression Ramil maintained its strength as it moves west-southwestward toward the country on Friday afternoon, with 17 areas in Luzon and Visayas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, said the weather bureau.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ramil was last spotted 640 kilometers (km) east of Juban, Sorsogon, carrying maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour (km/h) and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
It is currently moving at 25 km/h.
‘On the forecast track, the center of Ramil may make landfall over Catanduanes tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 18) afternoon,’ said Pagasa in its latest typhoon bulletin.
Meanwhile, Ramil is forecast to further intensify to the tropical storm category within the next 12 hours as it moves over the Philippine Sea.
‘Further intensification into a severe tropical storm prior to landfall is not ruled out,’ said Pagasa.
With this, Signal No. 1 (winds of 39-61 km/h may be expected in at least 36 hours, along with intermittent rains) is up in the following areas:
Luzon
The southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue)
The eastern and southern portions of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan)
The southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda)
Aurora
The eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Pantabangan, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, San Jose City, Llanera, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Peñaranda, City of Gapan)
The eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso)
The northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Pollilo Islands
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes
Albay
Sorsogon,
Burias Island
Ticao Island
Visayas
Northern Samar
The northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
The northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)