6 Luzon areas under Signal No. 1 as Neneng moves over Philippine Sea

Six areas in Luzon were placed under Tropical Cylone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Neneng moves west northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said on Saturday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said TCWS No. 1 was raised over the following areas:

• Batanes;
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
• the northern portion of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon);
• Apayao;
• the northern portion of Abra (Tineg); and
• Ilocos Norte.

These areas may expect winds of 39-61 km/h in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains within 36 hours.

Thus, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are expected over Batanes and Cagayan including Babuyan Islands until Saturday night.

Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, and Ilocos Norte will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains, while the northern portion of Isabela and the rest of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region will have light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

PAGASA warned that scattered flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall.

Further, the trough of Neneng and the convergence of its circulation with the southwesterly winds may also bring occasional rains over the western portions of MIMAROPA and Western Visayas.

Meanwhile, the convergence between the circulation of Neneng and southwesterly winds may bring occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength over Southern Luzon and Visayas.

A marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon under the influence of the surge of northeasterly surface wind flow.

PAGASA said the surge and the approaching tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas (2.0 to 3.5 m) over the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, which may be risky for those using small seacrafts.

Based on its track and intensity outlook, Tropical Depression Neneng is forecast to move westwards or west-northwestwards beginning Saturday through Sunday while moving toward Luzon Strait.

The center of the tropical depression may pass very close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands or Batanes on Sunday morning or afternoon, then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday as it begins turning generally southwestwards in response to an arriving northeasterly surge.

The weather bureau said Neneng is forecast to reach tropical storm category on Saturday and may further intensify into severe tropical storm while moving in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands-Batanes area.

The center of Tropical Depression Neneng was estimated based on all available data at 510 km East of Calayan, Cagayan (19.1 °N, 126.3 °E ).

It is moving west northwestward at 15 km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

Some flights were canceled meanwhile due to bad weather caused by Neneng. —KG/LBG, GMA News