Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been raised over 10 areas in Luzon as Tropical Depression Luis maintained its strength, according to the state weather bureau on Monday.
In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the following areas are currently under TCWS No. 1: The central and eastern portions of Cagayan (Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga, Alcala, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Solana, Rizal, Santa Ana, Gattaran, Iguig, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Pamplona)
Isabela
Quirino
The eastern and southern portions of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Conner, Pudtol, Luna)
The eastern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Tanudan, Pinukpuk, Rizal)
The eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin)
The eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista)
The northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dipaculao, Baler)
Polillo Islands
The northern portion of Camarines Norte (Daet, Talisay, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Vinzons)
Last located at 130 kilometers east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, Luis maintained its strength, packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph.
The tropical depression moves almost stationary, Pagasa said.
Luis is forecast to move generally northwestward and may make landfall or pass close to Northern Luzon this Monday evening or early morning on Tuesday.
Afterwards, the tropical depression would then ‘sharply turn east-northeastward while moving away from the Philippine landmass.’
Pagasa also said Luis is forecast to remain a tropical depression over the majority of the forecast period and may be downgraded into a remnant low-pressure area by Wednesday ‘before becoming fully assimilated into the circulation of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin.’
Meanwhile, Typhoon Dolphin was last located 2,850 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
It has a maximum sustained wind speed of 155 kph and gusts of 190 kph, moving west-northwestward at 25 kph.
Pagasa said Dolphin remains far from the landmass, thus, still having no direct effect on any part of the country.
The weather bureau said there is still a low chance that the typhoon will enter the PAR. /apl