Signal 1 still up in 3 areas as Obet maintains strength, threatens Batanes

Three areas were still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 1 as Tropical Depression Obet maintained its strength and threatened the Batanes, weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday afternoon.

The center of the tropical depression was 75 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes (20.3 °N, 122.7 °E ), according to PAGASA’s 5 p.m. weather bulletin.

Obet had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

It was moving west at 20 km/h.

PAGASA said the following areas were under Signal No.1:

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

The Batanes and Babuyan Islands would experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains on Friday night until Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains were possible over mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

PAGASA warned that flooding and rain-induced landslides were likely, especially in areas that were highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall.

The weather bureau also said a marine gale warning remained in effect over the seaboards of northern Luzon under the influence of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon.

The combined effects of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon and the tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.0 meters) over the seaboards of Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon in the next 24 hours.

Seafarers and mariners were advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions, PAGASA said.

Obet was forecast to track generally westward until Saturday, with its center likely to pass over or very close to Batanes this Friday night.

Obet was also expected to gradually intensify and may reach tropical storm category between Friday night and Saturday morning.

“Further intensification is likely once the tropical cyclone moves over the West Philippine Sea,” it added.

The tropical depression will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning or afternoon. — DVM, GMA News