Obet slightly accelerates; 3 areas remain under Signal No. 1

Tropical Depression Obet further accelerates towards the Luzon Strait; 3 areas remain under Signal No. 1, PAGASA reported in the 5 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Update.

The center of Tropical Depression Obet was estimated at 335 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1004 hPa.

Obet is moving Westward at the speed of 30 km/h with strong winds that extend outwards up to 220 km from the center,

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga) 

Heavy Rainfall

On Friday through Saturday early morning expect moderate to heavy with at times intense rains likely over Batanes and Babuyan Islands and possible over the northern portions of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and mainland Cagayan while light to moderate with at times heavy rains possible over the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

Residents living in low lying or areas susceptible to floods and landslides to identify hazard map.

Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan rains with gusty winds brought about by Obet with possible flooding or landslides due to moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. Minimal to minor threat to lives and properties due to strong winds.

Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the rest of Cagayan Valley will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to shearline and Obet 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 ITCZ and localized thunderstorms with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

Severe Winds

Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) may be experienced within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 1 nut the hoisting of Wind Signal No. 2 (for gale-force winds) remains possible should OBET reach tropical storm category prior or during its traverse of the Luzon Strait – a scenario that is not ruled out at this time.

"Prevailing strong to gale-force winds from the northeasterly surface windflow will continue over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte prior to the arrival of tropical cyclone winds this noon," the weather bureau said.

Hazards affecting coastal water

In the next 24 hours, the combined effects of the surge of northeasterly surface wind flow and the approaching tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Central Luzon (1.5 to 3.5 m) and the western and eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon (1.2 to 3.0 m) that make sea conditions risky especially small vessels.

Track and Intensity Outlook

"Tropical Depression OBET is forecast to track generally westward until tomorrow and its center is likely to pass over or very close to the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area between this afternoon or evening. On the track forecast, OBET will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow morning," said PAGASA. -- BAP, GMA News