Obet maintains strength as it nears Batanes

Signal No. 1 was still in effect in three areas due to Tropical Depression Obet, which has maintained its strength as it approached Batanes, according to weather bureau PAGASA on Friday.

In its 8 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Obet was over the coastal waters of Basco, Batanes at 7 p.m.

Obet had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. It was moving westward at 25 km/h. 

PAGASA said the following areas were under Signal No. 1:

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

PAGASA said Batanes and the Babuyan Islands will experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains, from Friday night until early Saturday morning.

The weather bureau warned that flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely, 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.

Under the influence of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon, PAGASA said a marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon. 

Meanwhile, the combined effects of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon and the tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.0 meters) over the seaboards of Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon in the next 24 hours.

Mariners and seafarers were advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions.

Obet is forecast to track generally westward until Saturday and its center is likely to pass over or very close to Batanes on Friday night.

The tropical depression will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning.

“Obet is forecast to gradually intensify and may reach tropical storm category tomorrow morning. Further intensification is likely once the tropical cyclone moves over the West Philippine Sea,” PAGASA said. — VBL, GMA News