Signal No. 1 up over 5 Luzon areas due to Neneng

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was raised over five areas in Luzon on Saturday morning due to Tropical Depression Neneng, PAGASA said in its weather forecast.

TCWS No. 1 was hoisted over the following areas:

• Batanes;
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
• the northern and eastern portions of Apayao (Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, Pudtol, Calanasan);
• the extreme northern portion of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon); and 
• and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar, Dumalneg, Adams).

The potential impact of winds in these areas is minimal to minor threat to life and property.

Neneng continues to move in the west southwest direction over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said. 

As of 4 a.m., the center of Neneng was estimated to be located at 575 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 70 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa.

Neneng is moving at a speed of 15 km/h with strong winds extending outwards up to 350 km from the center.

Meanwhile, PAGASA continues to monitor Tropical Storm Sonca outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

At 3 p.m. Friday, Sonca's center was estimated to be located at 485 km northwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and moving northwestward at 20 km/h.

Heavy rainfall

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are possible on Saturday over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, and Abra on Saturday evening.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are likely over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be expected over the northern portion of Isabela and the rest of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Scattered flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible, PAGASA said.

"The trough of NENENG and the convergence of its circulation with the southwesterly winds may also bring occasional rains over the western portions of MIMAROPA and Western Visayas," the weather bureau said.

Severe winds

Strong winds, strong breeze to near gale strength, may be experienced throughout the passage of Neneng within any of the areas under TCWS No. 1.

Cagayan and Batanes will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to Neneng with possible flash floods or landslides resulting from moderate to at times heavy rains.

The Bicol Region, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Samar Provinces, Biliran, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the trough of Neneng. Flash floods or landslides may result 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 trough of Neneng and localized thunderstorms, with the possibility of flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

Wind speed forecast for Northern Luzon is strong and moving in the north to northwest direction. Coastal waters will be rough in these areas.

The eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon will experience moderate to strong winds moving in the northwest to west, with coastal waters being moderate to rough.

The rest of the country will experience light to moderate wind speed moving in the southwest to west direction while coastal waters will be slight to moderate.

With the surge of the northeasterly surface wind flow, a marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.

The approaching tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and these  conditions may be risky for those using small seacraft. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions.

Track and intensity

Neneng is forecast to turn more westward until Saturday morning or afternoon or noon before turning more west northwestward for the rest of Saturday through Sunday while moving towards Luzon Strait.

"On the forecast track, the center of NENENG may pass very close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands or Batanes on Sunday morning or afternoon, then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday as it begins turning generally southwestward in response to an arriving northeasterly surge," the weather bureau said.

Neneng is forecast to further intensify while moving over the Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm category on Saturday.

It may reach severe tropical storm category while traversing the vicinity of Batanes-Babuyan Islands area.

The next weather bulletin will be issued by PAGASA at 11 a.m. —BAP/KG, GMA News