Neneng further intensifies while moving towards Babuyan Islands, Batanes

Tropical Storm Neneng has further intensified while moving westward towards the Babuyan Islands-Batanes area, PAGASA said on Saturday night.

In its 8 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Neneng may pass very close to or make landfall near the Babuyan Islands or Batanes on Saturday evening or early Sunday morning and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday.

“Neneng may reach severe tropical storm category tonight or tomorrow early morning while moving in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands-Batanes area. Furthermore, this tropical cyclone may further intensify into a typhoon on Monday or Tuesday,” PAGASA said.

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are expected over Batanes and Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands on Saturday night.

On Sunday, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will prevail over Batanes, the northern portion of mainland Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Sur, and the rest of mainland Cagayan, as well as light to moderate with at times heavy rains over the northern portion of Isabela and the rest of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Under these conditions, scattered flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA said.

A marine gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.

At 7 p.m., Neneng’s center was located 225 kilometers east southeast of Calayan, Cagayan or 200 km east of Aparri, Cagayan. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

It was moving westward at 15 km/h.

Signal No. 2 was raised over the following areas:

-Batanes
-Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
-Apayao
-the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Lagayan)
-Ilocos Norte

The areas under Signal No. 1 are the following:

-The northern and central portions of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Aurora, Luna, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Dinapigue, City of Cauayan)
-Kalinga
-the rest of Abra
-Mountain Province
-the northern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Mayoyao, Hungduan, Banaue)
- the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Bantay, City of Vigan, Santa, Caoayan, Narvacan, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Burgos, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo, Cervantes, Suyo, Sigay, Santa Cruz)

“Per latest track and intensity forecast, the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 3 (for storm-force winds). However, the possibility of hoisting of Wind Signal No. 4 is not ruled out,” PAGASA said.  — VBL, GMA News