Emong maintains strength; Signal No. 2 raised over 8 areas

Severe Tropical Storm Emong maintains its strength while moving southwestward over the West Philippine Sea while eight areas under Signal No. 2, according to the 2 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA.

The center of Tropical Storm Emong was estimated at 265 kilometers west Southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur or 245 km west of Bacnotan, La Union packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 105 km/h, central pressure of 990 hPa, and moving southwestward at the speed of 20 km/h.

TROPICAL CYCLONE WIND SIGNALS (TCWS) IN EFFECT

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon

• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• the northern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Mabini, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Infanta, Dasol, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Manaoag, Laoac, Binalonan, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Pozorrubio, Sison, San Fabian, San Jacinto)
• Benguet
• the western portion of Mountain Province (Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian, Besao, Sagada, Bontoc, Sadanga)
• the western portion of Ifugao (Hungduan, Tinoc)
• the southwestern portion of Abra (Tubo, Sallapadan, Manabo, Luba, Villaviciosa, Pilar, Bucay, Peñarrubia, San Isidro, Bangued, Langiden, Pidigan, San Quintin, Boliney, Bucloc, Danglas, La Paz, Tayum)
• the western portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Santa Fe)

TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the foloowing areas:

Luzon

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• the western and central portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Ramon, Cordon, Burgos, Cabatuan, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Gamu, Luna, Maconacon, Alicia, San Mariano, Naguilian, San Guillermo, City of Cauayan, Echague, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, Divilacan, San Isidro, Jones)
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• the rest of Abra
• Apayao
• the rest of Ifugao
• the rest of Mountain Province
• Kalinga
• Ilocos Norte
• the rest of Pangasinan
• the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan)
• Tarlac
• the western and central portions of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Aliaga, Zaragoza, San Antonio, Jaen, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Bongabon, Laur)

The enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds): Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, and Davao Oriental.

PAGASA also announced that a Gale Warning is in effect over the western seaboard of Northern Luzon.

"On the forecast track, Emong is forecast to move generally south southeastward in the next 12 hours and may make landfall over Ilocos Region tonight or tomorrow early morning, then may pass close to Babuyan Islands," said PAGASA.

"Emong may reach severe tropical storm category today. Further intensification into typhoon before its landfall is not ruled out." — BAP, GMA Integrated News