Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) intensified slightly as it approached the waters off Northern Samar, while Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised over eight areas in Luzon and the Visayas, the weather bureau said.
In its 11 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Ramil was last spotted over the coastal waters of Palapag, Northern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 90 kph.
The storm was moving west-southwest at 20 kph.
Pagasa added that Ramil is forecast to move generally west-northwest or northwest, ‘following a brief west-southwest movement.’
The agency also noted that Ramil ‘may make landfall or pass close to Northern Samar around noon or early afternoon on Saturday, then over Catanduanes in the afternoon or evening.’
Meanwhile, Pagasa said TCWS No. 2, with winds of 62 to 88 kph, was raised over the following areas:
Luzon
Northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan)
Polillo Islands
Camarines Norte
Catanduanes
Northern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion)
Extreme portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu)
Northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz)
Visayas
Northeastern portion of Northern Samar (Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Pambujan, San Roque, Mondragon, Gamay)
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1, with winds of 39 to 61 kph, was raised in the following areas:
Luzon
Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
Isabela
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Pangasinan
Aurora
Nueva Ecija
Eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat)
Eastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, Tarlac City, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona)
Eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
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)
Rest of Camarines Sur
Rest of Albay
Rest of Sorsogon
Burias Island
Ticao Island
Visayas
Northern Samar
Northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
Northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño, Tarangnan, Paranas, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong)
Pagasa also warned that areas outside the landfall point may still experience heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges.
The agency added that the trough and outer rainbands of the tropical storm, along with easterly winds from the Pacific Ocean, will bring strong to gale-force gusts to areas not covered by any wind signals:
Saturday: Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Caluya Islands, Eastern Samar, and Biliran
Sunday: Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes