TD Karding to bring heavy rains; Sunday landfall seen

State weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday said Tropical Depression Karding is expected to make landfall over the east coast of Isabela or Cagayan on Sunday.

“On the forecast track, the tropical cyclone is forecast to maintain its westward movement until it makes landfall in the vicinity of the east coast of Isabela or Cagayan on Sunday,” it said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

“Afterwards, the center of KARDING will traverse the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Monday,” it added.

Karding may bring heavy rains over Northern and Central Luzon starting Saturday, PAGASA said, as it warned of possible isolated to scattered flooding including flash floods and rain-induced landslides in areas prone to these hazards.

PAGASA said there is a high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 may be raised over Northern Luzon and some portions of Central Luzon.

Areas in the eastern portion of Northern Luzon may be placed under TCWS No. 1 as early as Friday evening or Saturday morning, it said.

Moderate to rough seas up to 3.1 meters are expected over the seaboards of Northern and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon beginning Sunday.

“Such condition may be risky for those using small seacraft. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and continue monitoring for updates,” PAGASA said.

As of 10 a.m., Karding was located at 1,350 km east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour and gustiness of 55 kph. It was moving eastward at 10 kph.

PAGASA said Karding will continue moving slowly eastward or east northeastward in the next 12 hours before sharply turning westward on Friday. —KBK, GMA News