Neneng maintains strength, threatens Batanes-Babuyan Islands area

Tropical Storm Neneng has maintained its strength as it threatens the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area, according to weather bureau PAGASA late Saturday night.

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are expected over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte until Sunday morning, PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. bulletin.

For the rest of Sunday, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will occur over Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur, and Abra, as well as light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and the rest of Ilocos Sur.

“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.

As of 10 p.m. the center of Neneng was estimated at 140 kilometers east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 145 km east southeast of Calayan, Cagayan.

It had maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h, and was moving west northwestward at 20 km/h.

Signal No. 2 was raised over the following areas:

-Batanes
-Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
-Apayao
-the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Lagayan)
-Ilocos Norte

The areas under Signal No. 1 are the following: 

-The northern and central portions of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Aurora, Luna, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Dinapigue, City of Cauayan)

-Kalinga

-the rest of Abra

-Mountain Province

-the northern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Mayoyao, Hungduan, Banaue)

-the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Bantay, City of Vigan, Santa, Caoayan, Narvacan, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Burgos, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo, Cervantes, Suyo, Sigay, Santa Cruz)

“[T]here remains a possibility that the highest wind signal that will be hoisted throughout the passage is Wind Signal No. 3,” PAGASA said.

“Neneng may reach [a] severe tropical storm (STS) category within 24 hours following its passage over the Luzon Strait, although the possibility of intensification into STS during the passage near or over the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area is not ruled out. Further intensification into a typhoon is likely by Monday,” it added.

The storm is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday evening or Monday morning. — VBL, GMA News