Neneng intensifies into storm; Signal No. 2 raised in five areas

Tropical Depression Neneng intensifies into a tropical storm as it accelerates westward over the Philippine Sea, east of extreme Northern Luzon, PAGASA said on Saturday.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said that Neneng was estimated at 255 km East southeast of Calayan, Cagayan or 230 km east of Aparri, Cagayan (18.6 °N, 123.8 °E ).

It is moving westwards at 30 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

Neneng intensified into storm at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, and is forecast to become severe tropical storm while moving over the Babuyan Islands-Batanes area.

Moreover, it could further intensify into a typhoon on Tuesday, PAGASA said.

Heavy to intense torrential rains threaten Batanes and Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands.

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

Neneng may also bring occasional rains over the western portions of MIMAROPA and Western Visayas, and southwesterly winds may bring occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength over Southern Luzon and the Visayas, especially in coastal and mountainous/upland localities.

Under the influence of the surge of northeasterly surface wind flow, a marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 2 was raised over the following areas:

• Batanes,
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands,
• Apayao,
• the northern portion of Abra (Ting, Lacub, Cagayan), and
• Ilocos Norte

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1 was raised over:

The northern portion of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas), Kalinga, the rest of Abra, the northern portion of Mountain Province (Paracels, Natonin, Barlig, Sadanga, Bontoc, Sagada, Besao), and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Bantay, City of Vigan, Santa, Cagayan, Narvacan, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Burgos, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo) —LBG, GMA News