Pepito to bring stormy weather over 13 areas

Tropical Storm Pepito, with international name Saudel, is expected to bring stormy weather over Aurora, Isabela, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, and Ifugao, PAGASA said Tuesday.

In its 24-hour forecast, the weather agency warned affected residents of possible flash floods or landslides due to light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains as well as possible light to moderate damage to structures and vegetation due to strong winds.

Pepito is also forecast to bring rains with gusty winds over Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Abra, Kalinga, and the Mountain Province.

Flash floods, landslides, and light damage to structures and vegetation are also possible, according to the weather agency.

Meanwhile, the trough of Pepito may bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, SOCCSKSARGEN, Northern Mindanao, and the rest of Luzon.

PAGASA warned residents of possible flash floods and landslides.

It is also expected to bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms over the rest of Mindanao.

Flooding and landslides are possible due to severe thunderstorms, PAGASA said.

At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the center of Pepito was estimated at 145 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It is moving west northwestward at 30 kph.

Thirteen areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) no. 2 and 12 areas were placed under TCWS no. 1 due to Pepito.

A severe weather bulletin on the tropical storm is set to be released at 5 p.m.—LDF, GMA News