Signal No. 1 up over 3 areas as Salome may make landfall over Batanes

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is hoisted over three areas as Tropical Depression Salome is expected to pass close or make landfall over Batanes and may also pass close over Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 1:

• Batanes
• the western portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Is., Dalupiri Is.)
• the northwestern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Pagudpud, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Laoag City)

PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m., Salome was located 255 kilometers north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Salome was moving south southwestward at 15 kph, PAGASA said.

“Salome may pass close or make landfall over Batanes between tonight to tomorrow (23 October) early morning,” PAGASA said.

“This weather disturbance may also pass close or over Babuyan Islands by tomorrow morning, and in Ilocos Norte by tomorrow afternoon,” it added.

Salome is likely to remain a tropical depression throughout the forecast period before weakening into a remnant low on Friday, PAGASA said.

“But slight intensification into a tropical storm is not ruled out,” it added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News