Signal No. 1 up over parts of Palawan as Vicky moves westward

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over the northern and central portions of Palawan on Saturday as Tropical Depression Vicky moves toward the area, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin.

The areas are under TCWS No. 1 are Araceli, Dumaran, Taytay, El Nido, San Vicente, Roxas, Puerto Princesa City, Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Sofronio Espanola including Calamian, Cuyo, Cagayancillo, and Kalayaan Islands.

These areas will have 30-60 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours, PAGASA said.

The winds will cause slight damage to houses made of very light materials or makeshift structures in places exposed to the elements. 

Farmers were warned that rice crops in the flowering stage may suffer significant damage.

TCWS in other areas were lifted as of 11 a.m.

Meanwhile, the surge of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) may bring gusty winds over most of Luzon and Visayas areas that are not under TCWS, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

Rainfall

Moderate to heavy and at times intense rains are to be expected over Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Isabela, Aurora, Marinduque, and the northern and central portions of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands.

Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Metro Manila, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and the rest of mainland Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Visayas will have light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

PAGASA also warned residents of flood- and landslide-prone areas as well as places which received significant antecedent rainfall recently to take the necessary precautions against flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides.

Nearby areas may also experience flooding even without heavy rains as river channels may swell.

Coastal waters

Due to the surge of the Northeast Monsoon and Vicky, coastal waters will be rough to very rough in the next 24 hours over the entire seaboards of Northern Luzon, the seaboard of Aurora, the eastern seaboard of Quezon including Polillo Islands, the seaboard of Camarines Norte, the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur, the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, the eastern seaboard of Albay including Rapu-Rapu Islands, the eastern seaboard of Sorsogon, the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar, the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar including Homonhon Island, the eastern seaboard  of Dinagat Islands, the eastern seaboard of Surigao del Norte, the seaboard of Surigao del Sur, and the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental.

Travel by sea over these areas, especially for small sea vessels, is risky as waves may reach 4.5 meters high.

Meanwhile, coastal waters in areas under TCWS No. 1, as well as the seaboards of Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental, and the remaining seaboards of Luzon, Visayas, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Zamboanga del Norte will have moderate to rough seas.

Sea travel is also risky in these areas as waves may reach as high as 4 meters.

Location

At 10 a.m., the eye of Vicky was located at 220 km east southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

Vicky is moving westward at 20 km/h.

The tropical depression is expected to make landfall over northern or central portion of Palawan on Saturday night.

Upon reaching the West Philippine Sea, Vicky may intensify into a tropical storm.

It is seen to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday afternoon or evening.

Sunday

PAGASA said heavy to intense rains are to be expected on Sunday over the Bicol Region, Quezon, Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Oriental Mindoro, Kalayaan Islands, and the rest of mainland Cagayan Valley.

Meanwhile, light to moderate and at times heavy rains will pour over Metro Manila, Eastern Visayas, Bulacan, Dinagat Islands, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, and MIMAROPA.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned to take the necessary precautions.

The next severe weather bulletin will be issued at 2 p.m. —KG, GMA News