At least 11 areas in Luzon remained under Storm Signal No. 1 as tropical depression "Ferdie"  crossed the Balintang Channel in northern Luzon early Saturday.

 

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Julie Nimes said "Ferdie" may bring rain until at least Monday.

 

"Inaasahan natin hanggang Lunes ng umaga (We expect the weather to be rainy until at least Monday morning)," Nimes said in an interview on dzBB radio, when asked when the rainy weather will persist.

 

On the other hand, PAGASA continues to track a low-pressure area about 150 km west-southwest of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte.

 

PAGASA's 5 a.m. advisory said that as of 4 a.m., "Ferdie" was estimated at 80 km north-northwest of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center.

 

It was moving west-northwest at 15 kph and was expected to be 270 km west-northwest of Laoag City Sunday morning, and 590 km west-northwest of Laoag City Monday morning.

 

Areas under Storm Signal No. 1 included:

 

- Isabela

- Cagayan

- Calayan Islands

- Babuyan Islands

- Batanes Islands

- Kalinga

- Apayao

- Abra

- Ilocos Norte

- Ilocos Sur

- Mountain Province

 

"Extreme Northern Luzon, Abra, Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province will experience rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough seas. The rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with widespread rains which may trigger landslides and flash floods while Visayas and Mindanao will be mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

 

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the rest of the country and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

 

Heavy to intense rainfall

 

Nimes said "Ferdie" may bring 10 to 25 mm per hour of rainfall - considered heavy to intense - within its 400-km diameter.

 

She reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Storm Signal No. 1 to remain alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

 

PAGASA also said "Ferdie" may enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao especially the western section.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to the combined effect of tropical depression 'Ferdie' and the southwest monsoon," it said. — ELR, GMA News