Eight areas in Luzon and Visayas are now under Signal No. 2 as Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) slightly intensified while moving closer to Northern Samar on Saturday morning, October 18, the state weather bureau PAGASA said.
As of 10 a.m., the center of Ramil was spotted over the coastal waters of Palapag, Northern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph.
It was moving west-southwestward at 20 kph.
Strong to gale-force winds extend outward up to 400 kilometers from its center, PAGASA said.
Wind signals
The following areas are under tropical cyclone wind signals:
Signal No. 2
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 eastern 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)
Residents may experience gale-force winds of 62 to 88 kph, posing a minor to moderate threat to life and property.
Signal No. 1
Luzon
Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
Isabela
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Pangasinan
rest of 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, City of Tarlac, 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, City of Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong)
Storm surge, strong winds
PAGASA warned that storm surges up to 2 meters may occur within 48 hours along low-lying and exposed coastal areas of Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and parts of Ilocos provinces.
The trough and outer rainbands of Ramil and the easterlies are also expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts over Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Marinduque, Mindoro provinces, Masbate and Samar on Saturday, extending to Central Luzon and nearby regions by Sunday, October 19.
Sea conditions
A gale warning remains in effect over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, where seas could reach up to 5 meters off Isabela and 4.5 meters off the coasts of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes.
PAGASA said that sea travel is risky for all types of vessels, advising small boats and motorbancas to remain in port or seek shelter until sea conditions improve.
Track and intensity outlook
Ramil is expected to move generally west-northwestward or northwestward toward Central and Southern Luzon.
On its forecast track, the storm’s center may make landfall or pass close to Northern Samar at noon or early afternoon, then near Catanduanes by Saturday evening. The possibility of landfall over Albay or Sorsogon has also increased, PAGASA said.
By Sunday morning or afternoon, Ramil may make another landfall over Aurora, before crossing the mountainous terrain of Northern and Central Luzon and emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Sunday evening.
It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday morning, October 20.
Ramil may still intensify into a severe tropical storm before landfall, slightly weaken over land and re-intensify once over open waters.
PAGASA warned that heavy rains, strong winds, and storm surges may still be felt outside the storm’s direct path, and that a northward or southward shift in its track could alter its potential landfall area.