‘Domeng’ weakens; new cyclone looms — PAGASA

Tropical cyclone “Domeng" weakened into a tropical depression, while state weather forecasters are monitoring a possible new cyclone off Luzon. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) head Prisco Nilo said a low-pressure area (LPA), some 940 km east of Luzon, might develop into a cyclone. “Meron tayong isang LPA na mino-monitor uli, panibago, sa likod ni ‘Domeng’.... Ang panibagong LPA ay [maaaring maging] bagyo rin in the next few days (We are monitoring a new LPA, behind ‘Domeng’.... There is a chance the new LPA will become a cyclone in the next few days)," Nilo said at a predawn press conference. Should the LPA develop into a new cyclone, it will be codenamed “Ester."

On Wednesday, Domeng intensified after merging with an LPA off north Luzon, but weakened as of Thursday morning. It continued to head for Cagayan province. “The analysis is, Domeng has downgraded to a tropical depression after it interacted with the land mass of northern Luzon," Nilo said, adding Domeng may weaken further Friday morning. But he said that while Domeng had weakened, it will still bring much rain especially over parts of northern Luzon. “Ang humina lang ang lakas ng hangin. Ang inaasahang ulan ay patuloy na mararanasan lalo sa hilagang bahagi ng Luzon (The only thing that weakened is Domeng’s the winds. But rains are still expected, especially over northern Luzon)," Nilo said in an interview on dzXL radio. As of Thursday morning, areas under Storm Signal No. 1 were Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Mt. Province, Isabela, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Babuyan and Calayan islands, and Batanes. PAGASA warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal 1 to take precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. In its 5 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Domeng was 240 km southeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center. Domeng was moving west-southwest at 15 kph and is expected to be 90 km north of Laoag City; and 340 km west-northwest of Laoag City Saturday morning. “Northern Luzon will experience rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas. The rest of country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Palawan and Western Visayas," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. “Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," PAGASA said.— LBG, GMANews.TV