More areas under Signal No. 2 as Ramil is now over Manila Bay

More areas in Luzon were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) moved over Manila Bay, PAGASA said late Sunday morning.

Based on the state weather bureau's 11 a.m. weather bulletin, the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

1. southeastern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan, Maddela, Aglipay);
2. central and southern portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Bambang, Aritao, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Kasibu);
3. central and southern portions of Benguet (Itogon, Bokod, Atok, Kapangan, Tublay, La Trinidad, Baguio City, Tuba, Sablan);
4. central and southern portions of La Union (Rosario, Pugo, Tubao, Santo Tomas, Agoo, Aringay, Caba, Naguilian, Burgos, Bagulin, Bauang, City of San Fernando, San Juan, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Santol, Balaoan, Luna);
5. Pangasinan;
6. Aurora;
7. Nueva Ecija;
8. Bulacan;
9. Tarlac;
10. Pampanga;
11. Zambales;
12. northern portion of Bataan (Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Morong, Pilar, City of Balanga);
13. northern portion of Metro Manila (Caloocan City, Quezon City, City of Valenzuela, City of Marikina, City of Malabon, City of Navotas, City of Pasig, City of San Juan, City of Mandaluyong, City of Manila, City of Makati, Pateros, Taguig City, Pasay City, City of Parañaque);
14. Rizal;
15. northern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Cavinti, Lumban, Paete, Kalayaan, Pakil, Pangil, Mabitac); and
16. northern portion of  Quezon (General Nakar, Real, Infanta, Mauban, Perez, Alabat), including Pollilo Islands.

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile is up over the following areas:

1. Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands;
2. Isabela;
3. the rest of Quirino;
4. the rest of Nueva Vizcaya;
5. Apayao;
6. Abra;
7. Kalinga;
8. Mountain Province;
9. Ifugao;
10. the rest of Benguet;
11. Ilocos Norte;
12. Ilocos Sur;
13. the rest of La Union;
14. the rest of Bataan;
15. the rest of Metro Manila;
16. the rest of Quezon;
17. the rest of Laguna;
18. Cavite;
19. Batangas;
20. Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Islands;
21. Oriental Mindoro;
22. Marinduque;
23. Romblon;
24. Camarines Norte;
25. Camarines Sur;
26. Catanduanes;
27. northern portion of Albay (City of Ligao, Oas, Libon, Polangui, Tiwi, Malinao); and
28. Burias Island

At 10 a.m., Ramil's center was estimated to be located over Manila Bay, carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 90 km/h, and is moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

State meteorologists said on Sunday, the trough and outer rainbands of Ramil and the easterlies will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Oriental Mindoro, Caluya Islands, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas, which are not under any TCWS.

It also maintained that within 24 hours, a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge with peak heights of 1.0 to 2.0 m is expected over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Marinduque, and Occidental Mindoro.

“It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA said.

Ramil is forecasted to continue moving west northwestward or northwestward as it traverses the Central Luzon landmass before emerging over the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan this afternoon.

It is also expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning.

“During its passage over the landmass, Ramil is expected to maintain its strength or slightly weaken due to frictional effects of mountainous terrain,” PAGASA said.

“Once over the West Philippine Sea, further re-intensification is highly likely, with Ramil expected to reach severe tropical storm category while outside the PAR Region,” it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News