Siony now a severe tropical storm — PAGASA

Tropical Storm Siony has intensified into a severe tropical storm while moving slowly over the Philippine Sea east of extreme Northern Luzon, PAGASA said Wednesday.

In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather bureau said Siony was placed under severe tropical storm category at 2 p.m. It is forecasted to intensify into a typhoon prior to its landfall or close approach over Extreme Northern Luzon and may reach its peak intensity of 125 kilometers per hour.

PAGASA said the center of Siony was located 735 km east of Basco, Batanes at 4 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. It is moving northward slowly.

PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still in effect over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga) and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Balintang Island, Babuyan Island, Didicas Island, Camiguin Island, including their adjoining islets).

PAGASA said Siony is forecasted to move slowly or remain almost stationary in the next six to 12 hours. Afterwards, it will move generally westward or west-northwestward towards the Luzon Strait and Extreme Northern Luzon.

“This will bring the center of Siony over or very close to the Batanes and Babuyan Islands between tomorrow evening and Friday morning,” PAGASA said.

The weather agency also said a landfall scenario over these localities remains likely.

PAGASA said Siony will exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday afternoon or evening.

Hazards

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said the northeasterlies enhanced by Tropical Storm Rolly and Siony will bring strong breeze to gale-force winds with higher gusts over Batanes, Babuyan Islands and the northern coastal areas of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile, the combined effects of the northeasterlies and the trough of Siony will bring light to moderate, with at times, heavy rains over Bicol Region, Aurora, Quezon and the eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela.

PAGASA advised affected residents to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Moreover, the combined effects of Rolly, Siony and the enhanced northeasterlies will bring rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 5.0 meters) over the entire seaboards of Northern Luzon, the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur, the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes and the seaboards of Aurora, Camarines Norte, Kalayaan Islands and northern Quezon (including the northern and eastern coastal waters of Polillo Islands).

Moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 2.5 m) will also prevail over the western seaboard of Central Luzon, the eastern and western seaboards of Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA warned. -NB, GMA News