Batanes remains under Signal No. 1; Emong to exit PAR

Batanes remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 on Tuesday as Tropical Depression Emong continues on its track to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on its way to Taiwan and southeastern China, PAGASA said in its early morning forecast.

The province will experience strong winds as Emong gradually weakens and moves away from extreme northern Luzon.

Emong continues to slow down and is currently over the sea off the southern tip of Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will be affecting the country.

Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, and Mindoro Provinces will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the monsoon. Flash floods or landslides may occur during moderate to at times heavy rains.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the monsoon and localized thunderstorms, with the possibility of flash floods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains.

As of 4 a.m. on Tuesday, the center of Emong was estimated at 165 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. Emong was moving northwestward at 25 kph.

Rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of Batanes and Cagayan including Babuyan Islands. Sea travel is risky over these waters, especially for those using small seacraft. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor.

Track, intensity outlook

Emong may exit the PAR on Tuesday morning as its high movement speed, the weak nature of its circulation, and the frictional effects of Taiwan’s rugged terrain prevents it from further intensifying.

The tropical depression is forecast to maintain its strength until it makes landfall over coast of Fujian or Guangdong in southeastern China on Tuesday morning or afternoon.

The wind speed forecast for Luzon is moderate to strong moving in the southwest to southeast direction while coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Visayas will experience light to moderate wind speed moving in the east to southeast direction while coastal waters will be slight to moderate.

Wind speed in Mindanao will be light to moderate moving in the east to northeast direction while coastal waters will remain slight to moderate.

Sunrise will be at 5:32 a.m. and sunset will be at 6:30 p.m. —BAP/KG, GMA News