PAGASA: Obet decelerates; shear line to bring rains over north Luzon

Tropical Depression Obet decelerated while moving west-southwestward off Philippines waters, weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday.

Based on its latest bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Obet was last seen 920 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h while heading west-southwestward at 10 km/h.

No wind signals are currently in effect over any areas of the country, but PAGASA said it may be hoisted in portions of north Luzon by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

The weather bureau said heavy rains may be experienced over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos due to the shear line in the next 24 hours.

Strong to gale-force winds may also prevail over these areas due to the northeasterly surface wind flow, it added.

A marine gale warning is still in effect over the seaboards of northern Luzon due to the influence of the surge of northeasterly surface wind flow.

“The combined effects of the surge of northeasterly surface wind flow and the approaching tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Central Luzon (1.5 to 3.5 m) and the western and eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon (1.2 to 3.0 m),” said PAGASA.

“These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” it added.

Obet is seen to head west southwestward beginning Wednesday through Friday early morning while accelerating before turning westward towards northern Luzon or the Luzon Strait.

On the forecast track, the center of the tropical cyclone may traverse extreme Northern Luzon or the northern portion of mainland Northern Luzon between Friday evening and Saturday morning. — Sundy Locus/RSJ, GMA News