Fishermen and operators of small seacraft in Northern Luzon were warned against going out to sea early Wednesday as a tropical storm from the west moved closer to Extreme Northern Luzon.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that while the storm will likely graze the Philippines and not make landfall, it may generate big waves that can threaten seacraft.

 

"Medyo malabo [ang mag-issue ng storm signals] unless mag-recurve at mag-westward. Maaaring lalapit sa Batanes, pero ang pinapakita nito northeast ang takbo. Subali't ngayon malakas ang alon doon. Lalo na sa Northern Luzon, malakas ang alon at hangin, medyo halos may bagyo," PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

"Napakamapanganib maglayag ngayong araw. Aabot ng 3-4 metro ang laki ng alon," he added.

 

He said the storm, with an international code name of "Talim," will be locally codenamed "Carina" upon entering the Philippine area of responsibility.

 

Quitlong said their models still show the storm is likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility late Wednesday afternoon, then head for Taiwan.

 

"Papasok lang tapos lalabas din agad sa pinaka-corner, daplis lang," he said.

 

But he also said the storm is likely to enhance the southwest monsoon.

 

As of 2 a.m., PAGASA said "Talim" was estimated at 430 km west northwest of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

 

It said "Talim" is forecast to move northeast at 22 kph.

 

Possible flash floods and landslides

 

"Northern and Central Luzon will have occasional rain becoming frequent over the western section of Northern Luzon which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

 

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added.

 

Moderate to strong winds from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Visayas, and coming from the southwest to west over the rest of the country.

 

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

 

Meanwhile, strong to gale force winds associated with the southwest monsoon and "Talim" may affect the seaboards of Luzon.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said.

 

NDRRMC warns fishermen in 3 regions

 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued a similar warning to fishermen in three regions—Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera.

 

NDRRMC head Benito Ramos went to Ilocos Norte Tuesday to check preparations, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported. –KG, GMA News