Ramil now a tropical storm; Signal No. 2 in 3 areas

Tropical cyclone Ramil has intensified with Signal No. 2 raised over three areas, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. Saturday bulletin.

Carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h, Ramil, now a tropical storm, was spotted 305 km east of Juban, Sorsogon at 4 a.m. It was moving westward at 20 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, and the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion)

Under Signal No. 1 are the following areas:

LUZON

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan 
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• the eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat)
• the eastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, City of Tarlac, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona)
• the eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
• the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• Ticao Island 

VISAYAS

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
• the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)

Ramil is expected to make landfall or pass close to Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon or evening. It may hit Aurora or Isabela on Sunday before traversing the rugged terrain of Northern and Central Luzon. 

The tropical cyclone is forecast to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning. –VBL, GMA Integrated News