Tropical Depression Luis may make landfall or pass close to the coast between Cagayan and Isabela on Monday evening before curving away from the Philippine landmass, the state weather bureau said.
In its 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Luis was last spotted over the coastal waters of Divilacan, Isabela at 4 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph), gusts of up to 60 kph, and moving northwestward at 20 kph.
During the agency’s 5 p.m. weather briefing, Pagasa weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said the tropical depression had slightly accelerated while moving along the waters east of Isabela. ‘Based on our latest forecast track and the expected increase in the speed of Tropical Depression Luis, it may make a close approach or landfall in the area between Cagayan and Isabela this afternoon or tonight,’ Varilla said in Filipino.
Pagasa said Luis is forecast to remain a tropical depression as it begins to recurve toward the northeast on Tuesday, moving away from the country before weakening into a low-pressure area (LPA) by Wednesday while exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
The weather bureau, however, noted that changes in the forecast track remain possible.
Signal No. 1 remained in effect over the central and eastern portions of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands; Isabela; Quirino; eastern and southern Apayao; eastern Kalinga; eastern Mountain Province; eastern Ifugao; and the northern portion of Aurora, where winds of 39 to 61 kph may pose a minimal to minor threat to life and property.
Varilla said Signal No. 1 had been expanded to cover additional areas in Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Aurora as Luis accelerated.
She also warned that heavy rainfall remains the primary concern as Luis interacts with the southwest monsoon.
‘Aside from the winds, we will continue to closely monitor the rainfall that Luis will bring,’ she said.
Pagasa placed Pangasinan under its red rainfall warning, where more than 200 millimeters of rain may fall from Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon. La Union, Benguet, Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan were placed under the orange rainfall warning, with 100 to 200 mm of rainfall forecast during the same period.
Varilla warned that these provinces face a higher risk of flooding and landslides.
‘Again, the areas or provinces marked in orange and red are those that may experience widespread flooding and landslides,’ she said.
Meanwhile, 50 to 100 mm of rain is forecast over Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cavite and Batangas, where localized flooding and landslides remain possible, particularly in areas highly susceptible to these hazards.
Pagasa said the combined effects of Luis and the southwest monsoon are expected to continue bringing significant rainfall over parts of Luzon and some areas of the Visayas through Tuesday.
The weather bureau also warned of strong to gale-force gusts over much of Luzon and the Visayas, including areas outside tropical cyclone wind signal coverage, due to the combined effects of Luis and the southwest monsoon.
Pagasa is also monitoring Typhoon Dolphin, which remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. While it is not expected to directly affect the country, the weather bureau said the typhoon could influence weather conditions by enhancing the southwest monsoon.
‘Although it is not expected to directly affect the country, it is expected to further enhance and strengthen the southwest monsoon,’ she said.
Pagasa advised the public, especially those in flood- and landslide-prone areas, as well as local disaster risk reduction and management offices, to continue monitoring official weather bulletins and follow evacuation and safety advisories issued by local authorities. /jpv