6 areas remain under Signal No. 1 as Maymay maintains strength

Six areas remained under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Maymay maintained its strength while moving slowly west southwestward over the Philippine sea east of Aurora, PAGASA said Tuesday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following are under Signal No. 1, where winds of 39-61 km/h may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours:

• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• the extreme northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Pollilo Islands

Based on the track and intensity outlook, Maymay is forecast to continue moving slowly west southwestward or westward towards Central Luzon.

Its center is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Aurora or the northern portion of Quezon by Wednesday afternoon or evening.

The center of Maymay was estimated based on all available data 285 km east of Casiguran, Aurora (16.1 °N, 124.8 °E), packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, and Apayao on Tuesday through Wednesday morning,

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be expected over Aurora, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ilocos Norte, it added. 

Also in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said occasional gusts reaching strong to gale-force strength associated with the enhanced northeasterly surface windflow and its convergence with the tropical depression circulation may also be experienced (especially in the coastal and mountainous areas) over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

PAGASA said a marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to the influence of Maymay and the surge of northeasterly surface windflow.

It added that the surge of northeasterly surface windflow may also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.5 m) over the western seaboard of Central Luzon in the next 24 hours.

The conditions may thus be risky for those using small seacrafts, and mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in the said conditions.

Already, class cancellations in Cagayan have been declared due to Maymay. 

The Manila International Airport Authority also announced an initial list of flight cancellations due to bad weather.

TD outside PAR

Meanwhile, a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is forecast to decelerate as it moves generally north northeastward in the next 12 hours before turning northward to northwestward while gaining speed.

Based on the track forecast, the tropical depression may enter PAR on Thursday morning or afternoon. It may intensify over the Philippine Sea and reach tropical storm category on the same day.

PAGASA said there is a high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals will be hoisted over Batanes and several provinces in Northern Luzon, where the highest possible wind signal that could be hoisted is Signal No. 2.

It added that the passage of the tropical cyclone over Extreme Northern Luzon may bring heavy rainfall over the area beginning Saturday.

The tropical cyclone may also bring rough to very rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon beginning late Friday or Saturday. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News