Signal No. 2 still up over Batanes, Babuyan Islands as Siony maintains strength

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was still hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands late Thursday morning as Severe Tropical Storm Siony maintained its strength while moving westward toward Luzon Strait.

Meanwhile, the following areas in Luzon were under TCWS no. 1, according to PAGASA's 11 a.m. bulletin:

• northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes)
• northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan)
• northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg, Burgos, Vintar, Pasuquin, Bacarra)

PAGASA said Siony is expected to accelerate westward or west-northwestward in the next 48 hours.

Its center, meanwhile, is seen to either make landfall over or graze the vicinity of Batanes or Babuyan Islands on Friday morning. It is forecast to reach typhoon category with peak intensity of 120 kph as it passes near or over the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area.

By Friday afternoon or evening, Siony is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, the center of Siony was estimated based on all available data at 475 km east of Basco, Batanes, moving westward at 25 kph with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

PAGASA said Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, and the northern and eastern coastal areas of mainland Cagayan will continue to experience strong breeze to near gale conditions due to the prevailing northeasterlies will until the arrival of tropical cyclone winds.

Pangasinan and most parts of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, and Mindanao will meanwhile experience scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rainshowers in the next 24 hours due to the trough of Siony.

Moderate to heavy rains due to "Siony" will begin affecting Batanes and Babuyan Islands on Friday early morning, PAGASA said.

The state weather bureau said flooding (including flashfloods) and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas identified in geohazard maps as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards. --KBK, GMA News