TROPICAL Storm “Pepito” slightly intensified as it neared Aurora province in Luzon, where it was forecast to hit land Tuesday evening, October 20, 2020.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of flooding and landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Moderate to heavy rains were expected over Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Camarines Norte, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, mainland Cagayan, La Union, Pangasinan, and Benguet.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains were forecast over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Bangsamoro.
A gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte and the western seaboards of Batangas and Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Island) due to rough to very rough seas.
At 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, the center of Tropical Storm Pepito was estimated at 110 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.
It has continued to move west northwestward and has accelerated to 30 km/h.
Another weather disturbance, a yet unnamed tropical depression because it is still outside the Philippine area of responsibility, is moving northeastward at 15 km/h and carries maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
But Pagasa said this disturbance is less likely to enter the PAR.
Gale-force winds are likely in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 and 2.
TCWS No. 2 (61-120 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 24 hours) is hoisted over La Union, Pangasinan, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Aurora, the southern portion of Isabela (Palanan, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Burgos, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cauayan City, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Alicia, San Mateo, Ramon, San Isidro, Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Santiago City, Cordon), the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem, Tagudin), the northern portion of Zambales (Iba, Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Botolan, Cabangan), and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar) including Polillo Islands.
The following are under TCWS No. 1 (30-60 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours): Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, the rest of northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real), the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Isabela, and the rest of Zambales.
TCWS No. 1 over Catanduanes and the northern portion of Camarines Norte has been lifted.
The seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1 and 2 will experience rough to very rough seas (2.5 to 5.0 meters).
Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacraft. (SunStar Philippines)