9 areas under Signal No. 1 as Karding slightly intensifies while moving west southwestward

Tropical Storm Karding slightly intensified while moving in the west southwest direction with Signal No. 1 raised over nine areas, according to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA early Saturday morning.

The center of Tropical Storm Karding was estimated at 795 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 105 km/h, and central pressure of 994 hPa.

Karding is moving west southwestward at a speed of 15 km/h with strong to gale-force winds extending outwards up to  220 km from the center.

PAGASA said Karding may make landfall on Sunday morning or afternoon over the east coast of Isabela or Aurora.

Tropical Wind Cyclone Signal No. 1 (TWCS) was hoisted over the following areas:

• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Solana, Tuao, Enrile)
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Aurora
• the northern and eastern portions of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Laur, Rizal, San Jose City, Lupao, Llanera, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, General Tinio)

Visayas, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon and the Trough of Tropical Storm Karding with possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

Severe Winds

Areas under TCWS No. 1 may experience strong winds, with strong breeze to near gale strength.

The agency added that per latest track and intensity forecast, the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is TCWS No. 3.

"However, with the possibility that KARDING will reach typhoon category shortly before making landfall, the hoisting of Wind Signal No. 4 in some areas over the eastern section of Northern or Central Luzon is not ruled out," PAGASA said.

Heavy rainfall

On Saturday evening up to early morning on Sunday, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, and the northern portion of Aurora will have light to moderate with at times heavy rains, the weather bureau said.

However, for the rest of Sunday through Monday early morning, heavy to intense rains are forecasted over the northern portion of Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija. Moderate to heavy rains on the other hand are expected over mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Provinces, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, the northern portion of Zambales, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region. The rest of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon on the other hand will have light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

"Under these conditions, scattered flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall," PAGASA said.

"Due to the southwest monsoon partly influenced by Karding, occasional rains are also possible beginning today or tomorrow over most of Southern Luzon (including Metro Manila) and Visayas, especially over their western sections," the agency added.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

Karding and a preceding northeasterlies may bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Northern Luzon on Saturday.

Sea conditions are expected to worsen on Sunday, with the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon having rough to very rough seas, with waves reaching up to 6 meters.

"The aforementioned conditions are risky for most types of seacrafts. Mariners are advised to monitor for updates, take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions during the said period," PAGASA said.

"Karding is forecast to track generally west southwestward or westward while gradually accelerating towards the east coast of Isabela or Aurora, where it is likely to make landfall tomorrow morning or afternoon," it added.

This tropical cyclone, PAGASA reported, is forecast to gradually intensify within the period prior to landfall over Northern Luzon.

"While current forecast scenario shows that KARDING may make landfall as a severe tropical storm, the possibility that this tropical cyclone will reach typhoon category shortly before reaching land is not ruled out," the agency added.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to take the necessary measures to protect life and property. 

The weather bureau will issue the next tropical cyclone bulletin at 11 a.m. —BAP/KG, GMA News