Isang now over Ifugao; Signal No. 1 up in 16 Luzon areas 

Tropical Depression Isang continues to move west northwestward and is now over Ifugao province, the state weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday evening. 

According to the 8 p.m. bulletin, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over 16 areas in Luzon. 

• Cagayan
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Aurora
• the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Lupao, Carranglan, Pantabangan, San Jose City)

Isang has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is moving west northwestward at 15 kph. 

PAGASA said that the tropical depression will traverse northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Friday evening. It will later exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility either in the morning or afternoon of Saturday, August 23, it added. 

Isang may also develop into a tropical storm on Saturday morning or afternoon, and may intensify into a severe tropical storm while approaching the waters south of Hainan, China. 

“However, intensification into a tropical storm at a much earlier time (e.g., several hours after emerging over the West Philippine Sea) is not ruled out,” the state weather bureau said. 

PAGASA also warned earlier that heavy to intense rains (100–200 mm) may be experienced in Zambales and Bataan until Saturday, while moderate to heavy rains (50–100 mm) could affect La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Pampanga, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Ifugao, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Quezon.

The southwest monsoon, enhanced by Isang, will also bring heavy to intense rains over Occidental Mindoro and moderate to heavy rainfall across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, and Aklan. From Saturday afternoon to Sunday, rains are expected to persist over Palawan and Occidental Mindoro.

PAGASA advised that rainfall amounts could be higher in mountainous and elevated areas, and flooding and landslides remain possible, especially in areas already saturated by previous rains.—LDF, GMA Integrated News