Signal No. 1 up in Luzon, Visayas as Ramil keeps strength

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted in parts of Luzon and Visayas as Tropical Depression Ramil maintained strength while moving west southwestward over the Philippine Sea, state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday afternoon.

According to PAGASA's 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:

Luzon 

• southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue)
• eastern and southern portions of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan)
• southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda)
• Aurora
• eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Pantabangan, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, San Jose City, Llanera, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Peñaranda, City of Gapan)
• eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso)
• northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Pollilo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• Ticao Island

Visayas 

• Northern Samar
• northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
• northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)

PAGASA said the center of the tropical depression was monitored at 640 kms east of Juban, Sorsogon. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph.

It is moving west southwestward at 25 kph. 

PAGASA said the center of Ramil may make landfall over Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon, October 18.

It will then turn west northwestward as it passes close to or over mainland Bicol Region on Saturday evening. Ramil may make another landfall over Aurora or Quezon on Sunday morning, October 19. 

PAGASA said that Ramil may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning or afternoon, October 20. 

However, the state weather bureau said Ramil will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm category within the next 12 hours. — VDV, GMA Integrated News