Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) slowed down while moving west-northwestward over the sea east of Sorsogon on Saturday morning, October 18, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
As of 7 a.m., Ramil was spotted 260 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
Strong to gale-force winds extend outward up to 400 kilometers from the storm’s center.
Wind signals
PAGASA said the following areas are under tropical cyclone wind signals:
Signal No. 2
Camarines Norte
Catanduanes
northern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion)
Polillo Islands
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
Bengue
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, 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) including Polillo Islands
rest of Camarines Sur
Albay
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)
Winds of 39 to 61 kph may bring minimal to minor impacts in these areas.
Storm surge, severe winds
PAGASA warned of possible storm surges up to 2 meters along low-lying coastal areas of Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte and Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and parts of Northern Samar and Ilocos provinces within 48 hours.
The trough and outer rainbands of Ramils and the prevailing easterlies will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:
Saturday, October 18: Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Marinduque, Mindoro Provinces and Masbate
Sunday, October 19: Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Eastern Samar
Sea conditions
Gale warnings remain in effect over the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the northern seaboards of Bicol Region.
Up to 4.5 meters: northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Isabela and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands.
Up to 4.0 meters: northeastern seaboard of Aurora and eastern seaboard of Babuyan Islands
Up to 3.0 meters: seaboards of Batanes, rest of Aurora, remaining coasts of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands and Polillo Islands and northern seaboard of Northern Samar.
Up to 2.5 meters: seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon and Eastern Samar and remaining coasts of Northern Samar.
Up to 2.0 meters: seaboards of La Union, western seaboards of Pangasinan and Northern Samar, and eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Sur and the rest of mainland Quezon.
PAGASA strongly advised against sea travel as waves and swells may worsen with Rami’s presence over Philippine waters.
Track and intensity
PAGASA said Tropical Storm Ramil is forecast to move west-northwestward toward Central and Southern Luzon beginning Saturday.
On its forecast track, the storm’s center may make landfall or pass close to Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon or evening before moving near Vinzons, Camarines Norte and Polillo Islands by Sunday morning, October 19. By Sunday afternoon, Ramil is expected to turn northwestward and may make another landfall over Aurora or Isabela.
After crossing the rugged terrain of Northern and Central Luzon, the storm is projected to emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Sunday evening and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning, October 20.
While over the Philippine Sea, Ramil may still intensify into a severe tropical storm before landfall. It is expected to slightly weaken as it crosses Luzon but could re-intensify once over open waters.
PAGASA warned that heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges may still be felt in areas outside the storm’s direct path. The agency also noted that a possible northward or southward shift in its track could alter its landfall area.