TD Maring maintains strength as it moves over Philippine Sea –PAGASA

Tropical Depression Maring has maintained its strength while heading over the Philippine Sea, weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA found the tropical depression’s center at 715 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar or 640 km east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

The weather bureau said Maring sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

PAGASA said areas in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Cebu, and Bohol will experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains due to the trough of Maring.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may begin affecting Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and the rest of Visayas on Saturday as the southwesterlies enhanced by the depression begins to affect the central portion of the country.

“Under these conditions, isolated scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps,” the weather bureau said.

Due to the tropical depression and northeasterly winds, PAGASA noted a gale warning is currently in effect over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas.

PAGASA said the tropical depression will continue moving erratically in the next 12 hours before moving generally north northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

It added that Maring is forecast to slightly weaken in the next 24 hours and weaken into a remnant low by Sunday morning.

The weather bureau said moderate to rough seas will also prevail over the remaining seaboards of Luzon, the western seaboard of Visayas, and the eastern and western seaboards of Mindanao.

It also advised mariners and seafarers to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News