Goring has Signal No. 1 raised over northeastern Cagayan

Signal No. 1 has been raised over northeastern Cagayan as Tropical Storm Goring moved slowly over the Philippine Sea east of Batanes, PAGASA said on Thursday night.

According to the weather bureau's tropical cyclone bulletin released past 11 p.m., Goring was spotted 235 km east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Santa Ana, Cagayan is expected to experience winds from 39 to 61 kph, and intermittent rains within the next 36 hours.

Fifty to 100 millimeters' worth of accumulated rainfall is expected over Batanes and the Babuyan Islands from Thursday night to Friday night.

The Babuyan Islands and the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan have also been forecast to experience 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall from Friday evening to Saturday evening.

PAGASA said forecast rainfall would be generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas.

"Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days," it added.

Goring in the next 24 hours will cause moderate to rough seas between 1.5 to three meters over the coastal waters of extreme Northern Luzon and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.

"Mariners of motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to avoid navigating in these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels," PAGASA said.

The Southwest Monsoon, enhanced by Goring, will bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any wind signal:

• Saturday: Aurora, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Dinagat Islands, and most of MIMAROPA and Visayas
• Sunday: Aurora, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte

It will also  bring occasional rains over the western portions of central Luzon and southern Luzon beginning tomorrow and over the western portion of Visayas beginning on Saturday.

Goring is expected to turn sharply southwestward or southward over the waters east of northern Luzon for the next three days following a slow looping track.

The storm is forecast to rapidly intensify into a typhoon by Saturday morning and reach peak intensity on Sunday evening.

The potential for Goring to develop into a super typhoon has yet to be ruled out.

"Due to a highly favorable environment, Goring is forecast to rapidly intensify and may reach typhoon category by Saturday morning. It may reach its peak intensity on Sunday evening, after which it is forecast to maintain strength until the end of the forecast period," PAGASA said.

"However, the potential for developing into a super typhoon is not ruled out," it added.

PAGASA said 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," PAGASA said. —NB, GMA Integrated News