Sarah now a storm; Ramon weakens —PAGASA

Ramon has weakened into a tropical depression as it moves over Isabela on Wednesday, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.

All other tropical cyclone warning signals have been lifted except for Signal No. 1 in the following areas:

• Batanes

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

• Apayao

• Kalinga

• Abra

• Ilocos Norte

• Ilocos Sur

• Western portion of Isabela (Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Burgos, Aurora, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Cauayan, Ramon, Alicia, Angadanan, San Isidro, Santiago and Cordon)

• Mountain Province

• Benguet

• Ifugao

• La Union

• Pangasinan

Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are expected over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.

Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Isabela, La Union, Benguet and the rest of Ilocos Norte may also experience light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains.

Residents of the aforementioned areas were advised to take precautionary measures against possible floods and landslides.

As of 10 a.m., the center of tropical depression Ramon was located in the vicinity of Roxas, Isabela.

It is moving south-southwest at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

Ramon has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It may weaken into a low-pressure area within 24 hours, PAGASA said.

On the other hand, Sarah has intensified into a tropical storm.

Due to this weather disturbance, Signal No. 1 has been raised in the following areas:

• Eastern portion of Cagayan (Calayan, Aparri, Baggao, Alcala, Gattaran, Lal-lo, Tuguegarao City, Penablanca, Iguig, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Buguey, and Ballesteros)

• Northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Tumauini, Cabagan, Maconacon and San Pablo)

Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are likely in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte on Wednesday.

Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Isabela, La Union, Benguet and the rest of Ilocos Norte may expect light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains.

On Thursday, moderate to frequent heavy rains due to Sarah are expected over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains may also prevail over Cagayan, Apayao and the northern portion of Isabela.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sarah was spotted 715 kilometers east northeast of Infanta, Quezon or 640 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.

It is moving north-northwest at 20 kph.

Sarah has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

PAGASA warned that sea travel is risky, especially for small sea crafts, over the seaboards of areas under Signal No. 1, as well as the seaboards of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes, the eastern seaboards of northern Aurora and Isabela, the western seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan, and the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur.

Strong winds may be experienced over Batanes and Babuyan Islands due to the Northeast Monsoon’s surge, the state weather bureau added. —Dona Magsino/VDS, GMA News