Liwayway intensifies into severe tropical storm; Signal No. 1 still up in Batanes

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes late Tuesday morning as Tropical Storm Liwayway (international name: Lingling) has intensified into a severe tropical storm.

In PAGASA's 11 a.m. weather update, residents in Batanes were advised to take precautionary actions against potentially strong winds.

As of 10 a.m., the center of Liwayway was estimated at 250 kilometers east-northeast of Calayan, Cagayan or 205 kilometers east southeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

The severe tropical storm was last seen moving north-northwest at a slower pace of 10 kph.

PAGASA expects Liwayway to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning.

The severe tropical storm also remains less likely to make landfall in the country.

Nevertheless, Liwayway is expected to bring light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Apayao, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Batanes.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will also bring scattered light to moderate rains (with at times heavy rain showers during thunderstorms) over Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, northern portions of Palawan (including Calamian Islands), Mindoro Provinces, and the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Residents of the aforementioned areas, especially those living in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas were advised to take the necessary precautions, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and monitor weather updates.

Sea travel also remains "risky" over the seaboards of Luzon, including those under TCWS  No. 1, due to potentially rough sea conditions. —Margaret Claire Layug/KG, GMA News