THE tropical cyclone that will result from the merger of new Tropical Storm Maring and the remnant low pressure area of what used to be Tropical Depression Nando is expected to intensify and may be upgraded to severe tropical storm category in 24 to 36 hours, the state weather bureau said early Sunday, October 10, 2021.
The merger event is forecast to be completed in six to 12 hours.
In its latest bulletin, weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the possibility of a landfall over Luzon has not been ruled out.
As of 4 a.m. Sunday, the center of Maring was located at 665 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 105 km/h, and central pressure of 992 hPa. It was moving northward at 10 km/h.
Pagasa said strong winds or higher may extend outwards up to 750 kilometers from the center of Maring.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 was hoisted over the following areas:
Luzon
Catanduanes, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Santa Maria, Cabagan, Tumauini, San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Ilagan City, San Mariano)
Visayas
Eastern Samar, the eastern portion of Northern Samar (San Roque, Pambujan, Las Navas, Catubig, Laoang, Mapanas, Lapinig, Gamay, Palapag, Mondragon, Silvino Lobos), and the eastern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Hinabangan, Paranas)
Mindanao
Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte
Pagasa said that in the next 12 hours, Maring was forecast to accelerate and move north northwestward over the Philippine Sea, notwithstanding the possibility of short-term erratic motion as it assimilates the circulation of Nando.
Afterwards, the storm will turn and move west northwestward toward extreme northern Luzon.
Based on the forecast track, Maring was seen to move over the Luzon Strait and pass close or over the Babuyan Islands between Monday evening (October 11) and Tuesday morning (October 12.
But the possibility of a landfall over mainland Luzon is not ruled out at this time, said Pagasa.
It added that afterwards, Maring will move generally westward over the West Philippine Sea beginning Tuesday through the remainder of the forecast period.
In the next 24 hours, Pagasa said moderate to heavy rains due to the tropical storm are possible over Eastern Samar and Catanduanes, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains are possible over Bicol Region, Caraga Region, and the rest of Visayas.
Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale conditions) with higher gusts are also prevailing in areas under TCWS 1, and this may generally bring up to very light damage to structures and vegetation, said Pagasa.
It also said that due to the expansive wind field of the tropical storm and the gradual enhancement of the southwesterlies and northeasterlies, occasionally gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale in strength are possible in the next 24 hours over the coastal and upland/mountain areas of Extreme Northern Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Caraga Region, and Northern Mindanao that are not under TCWS.
The weather bureau has also raised a gale warning for the eastern seaboards of the country due to Maring and the northeasterly wind flow.
It said that in the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas will prevail the remaining seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, and the northern seaboard of Mindanao.
“These conditions are risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” Pagasa said. (LMY)