7 areas under Signal No. 1 as Ramon intensifies into tropical storm

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over seven areas as Tropical Depression Ramon has intensified into tropical storm, according PAGASA’s 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin on Wednesday.

These seven areas in Luzon and Visayas are under the TCWS No.1:

• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Albay
• Sorsogon

Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are expected over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon. Meanwhile, light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Camarines Norte, Masbate, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

For small sea crafts, PAGASA warned that the sea travel is risky, especially over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1, as well as over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to rough sea condition.

In a press briefing, PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said that gale warning has been raised over the following areas:

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Isabela
• Aurora
• Camarines Provinces
• Eastern coast of Albay, Sorsogon, and Quezon including Polilo Island

PAGASA also warned these following areas in Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas of possible flooding due to Ramon:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Masbate
• Sorsogon
• Albay
• Leyte
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Southern Leyte
• Biliran

Concerned residents in landslide and flood prone areas are advised to take precautionary measures and coordinate with the authorities.

PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano said Ramon is seen to make landfall on Isabela on Saturday morning.

At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Ramon was located at 385 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kph moving west northwest at 20 kph. —KBK, GMA News