Storm signal up in Zambales, Bataan due to 'Marce'

MANILA -- Tropical Storm Marce (international name: Gaemi) will continue to bring rains in Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon late in the week as it maintained its strength while in the West Philippine Sea.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) spotted Marce some 240 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales.

Zambales has been placed under public storm signal number 1 along with Bataan, where winds of up to 60 kilometers per hour (kph) are expected to batter in the next 36 hours.

In other areas, enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to bring occasional moderate to heavy rains over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon and Bicol Region.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are also advised not to venture out into the western seaboard of Luzon due to big waves generated by the storm.

Carrying maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph, Marce was forecast to move south southeast slowly.

Junior weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio earlier said with its southeast direction, Marce has a small chance to make a landfall. However, if it makes a landfall, the tropical storm will hit Zambales or Bataan.

"Based on our models, we have two scenarios-- one if Marce will not make landfall, it will make a U-turn and exit towards Vietnam, or if it makes a landfall, it will affect Zambales or Bataan," Aurelio said.

With its speed, Pagasa said that Marce is expected to exit the country by Friday afternoon. (Virgil Lopez/PNA/Sunnex)