Emong accelerates, nearing Batanes; Signal No. 2 over two areas

Tropical Storm Emong has passed closed to Babuyan Islands and is now nearing Batanes late Friday afternoon, according to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA.

The center of the eye of Tropical Storm Emong was estimated over the coastal waters of Sabtang, Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 115 km/h and moving north northeastward at the speed of 40 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands

TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas:

• Ilocos Norte
• Apayao
• mainland Cagayan

A Gale Warning is in effect over the seaboard of Northern Luzon, said PAGASA.

"On the track forecast, Emong will accelerate north northeastward and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow (26 July) morning," the state weather bureau said.

"Emong will continue to weaken throughout the forecast period due to increasing unfavorable environment. It will likely degenerate into a remnant low tomorrow evening while entering the East China Sea. However, a slightly faster weakening trend is not ruled out," the agency added.

PAGASA monitors cyclones outside PAR, Habagat

Other than Tropical Storm Emong, PAGASA continues to monitor former Tropical Depression Dante and Tropical Storm Kosa located outside of the PAR.

Dante currently has winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph, and is located at 630 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes.

Kosa, on the other hand, is located at 2,290 kilometers east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph. — with Jiselle Ann C. Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News