Signal No. 1 up over parts of Isabela, Aurora as Pepito accelerates westward

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the eastern part of Isabela and northern portion of Aurora due to Tropical Depression Pepito, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Monday.

In an 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas have been placed under TCWS No.1:

• eastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Dinapigue, the eastern portion of San Mariano);
• northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag)

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are to be expected over Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, Caraga, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

It also advised its Regional Services Divisions to issue local thunderstorm or rainfall advisories and heavy rainfall warnings if needed.

Areas under Signal No. 1 may experience occasional gusts in the next 36 hours, according to PAGASA.

Partly enhanced by Pepito, the northeasterly surface windflow may bring strong-force to near gale-force winds with occasional gusts over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and mountainous areas of northern Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar.

A gale warning was raised over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Isabela due to rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 4.5 m) caused by the northeasterly surface windflow.

“Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacrafts,” PAGASA warned.

Due to Pepito and the northeasterly surface windflow, moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.0 m) are expected over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and Bicol Region, as well as the seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar in the next 24 hours.

“Those with small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea,” PAGASA said.

At 10 a.m., Pepito was located at 475 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour and gustiness of up to 55 km/h, moving westward at 30 km/h.

Citing meteorological data, PAGASA said TCWS No. 1 may be raised over the eastern portion of Quirino and other municipalities in Isabela and Aurora in the next bulletin. —KG, GMA News