Signal No. 1 raised over Batanes as Siony maintains strength

Severe tropical storm Siony has maintained its strength while slowly moving over the Philippine Sea east of extreme Northern Luzon, PAGASA said Wednesday night.

In its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather agency said that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been raised over the following areas:

• Batanes
• The northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga)
• The eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Balintang Isl., Babuyan Isl., Didicas Isl., and Camiguin Isl. including their adjoining islets)

Siony is forecast to pass over or approach near the vicinity of Batanes or the Babuyan Islands on Friday morning.

The severe tropical storm is also forecast to intensify into a typhoon with a peak intensity of 120 to 130 kilometers per hour by Friday morning while passing near or over the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area.

PAGASA said there is an “increasing likelihood” of TCWS No. 3 being raised in areas near or along the expected track of Siony.

At 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the center of Siony was estimated at 670 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

It is moving westward slowly.

The weather agency said that Siony is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon or evening.

It is then expected to gradually weaken due to unfavorable conditions over the West Philippine Sea.

Hazards affecting land

In the next 24 hours, strong breeze to near gale conditions is expected over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, and the northern and eastern coastal areas of mainland Cagayan due to the northeasterlies.

Meanwhile, strong breeze to near gale conditions will prevail over areas under TCWS no. 1 by Thursday evening.

Scattered light to moderate with, at times, heavy rainshowers are also expected over Pangasinan and most parts of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, and Mindanao due to the troughs of Rolly and Siony.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

Meanwhile, rough to very rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of areas under TCWS no. 1 and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, the western seaboard of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, and the western seaboards of Southern Luzon.

PAGASA said sea travel is risky.

Moderate to rough seas will also prevail over the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA said.

The next severe weather bulletin is set to be issued at 5 a.m. on Thursday.—LDF, GMA News