Signal No. 1 raised over 3 areas as Obet moves west southwestward

Three areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Obet continued to move in the west southwest direction over the Philippine Sea, according to PAGASA's early Thursday morning update.

As of 4 a.m., Obet was estimated based on all available data at 805 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1004 hPa.

Ober continues west southwestward movement at a speed of 15 km/h with strong winds extend outwards up to 220 km from the center.

TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga)

Heavy Rainfall

PAGASA said Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms brought about by the shearline with possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms and with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

Early Friday morning through Saturday morning, PAGASA said possible moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and the northern portion of mainland Cagayan.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains possible over Batanes, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, and the rest of mainland Cagayan.

"Under these conditions, 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," the weather bureau said.

"Prior to the arrival of tropical cyclone rainfall, the shear line may bring at times heavy rains over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte in the next 24 hours," the agency added.

Severe Winds

PAGASA said Obet may bring strong winds within any of the areas where Signal No. 1 is hoisted and that the highest possible wind signal that may be hoisted is Signal No. 2.

"Prior to onset of tropical cyclone winds, prevailing northeasterly surface windflow will continue to bring strong to gale-force winds over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte in the next 24 hours," the agency said.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

Marine gale warning remains 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 and the western and eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon that could be risky for small vessels.

PAGASA advised mariners take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and to avoid such trips if possible.

Track, intensity outlook

Obet is forecast to continue moving in the west southwest direction until noontime Friday while accelerating before turning westward or west northwestward towards Northern Luzon or the Luzon Strait.

The center of Obet may traverse extreme Northern Luzon or the northern portion of mainland Northern Luzon between Friday evening and Saturday morning then gradually intensify to reach tropical storm category.

"Considering these developments, the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property. Persons living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards are advised to follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials," the agency advised.

Sunrise will be at 5:48 a.m., sunset at 5:33 p.m. -- BAP, GMA News