Signal No. 1 up over 5 areas as Ulysses maintains strength

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised over five areas late Monday night as Tropical Storm Ulysses maintained its strength over the West Philippine Sea.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Ulysses will intensify into a severe tropical storm within the next 24 hours and likely make landfall in the Bicol region on Wednesday or in Quezon between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

“This storm may reach typhoon category by Wednesday morning and reach its peak intensity on Wednesday evening. This tropical cyclone may make landfall at or near its peak intensity,” the weather bureau said.

The center of the cyclone was last seen 485 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Ulysses is moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.

Signal No. 1 was raised over the following areas:

• The eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Tigaon, Sagnay, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan)
• The eastern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu, Manito)
• Catanduanes
• The northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Sorsogon City, Gubat, Prieto Diaz)
• The eastern portion of Northern Samar (Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig)

Hazards

PAGASA said light to moderate with at times heavy rains should be expected over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the eastern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region.

Moderate to heavy rains will also begin affecting the Bicol Region and portions of Eastern Visayas on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, rough to very rough seas will prevail over the entire seaboards of Northern Luzon, Kalayaan Islands, Aurora, northern Quezon, Camarines Norte, the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur, the eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, and the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes and Northern Samar. 

PAGASA added that moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao

Forecast positions

By Tuesday evening, Ulysses will be 350 kilometers east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

By Wednesday evening, it will be 90 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte.

By Thursday evening, the cyclone will be 200 kilometers west-southwest of Iba, Zambales.

Ulysses will be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility or 370 kilometers north of Pagasa Island by Friday evening.—LDF, GMA News