Salome turns into tropical storm; Batanes under Signal No. 2

Tropical cyclone Salome is now a tropical storm, PAGASA said in its 2 a.m. Thursday bulletin.

At 1 a.m., Salome was located over the coastal waters of Basco, Batanes, carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

It was moving south southwestward at 20 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was raised over Batanes, while the western portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Is., Dalupiri Is.) and the northwestern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Pagudpud, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Laoag City) were placed under Signal No. 1.

Salome is expected to bring heavy rainfall over Batanes until Friday. 

"On the forecast track, Salome may pass close or make landfall over Batanes within the next 12 hours. This weather disturbance may also pass close or over Babuyan Islands by this morning and in Ilocos Norte by noon or afternoon," PAGASA said.

"Salome is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression within the next 12 hours and will follow a weakening trend until it becomes a remnant low by Friday," it added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News