Ada maintains strength, moves over Philippine Sea

Tropical Depression Ada (international name: Nokaen) maintained its strength as it moved eastward over the Philippine Sea on Tuesday, according to the latest tropical cyclone bulletin posted by PAGASA.

The center of Ada was estimated to be located at 675 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 70 km/h, and moving eastward at 20 km/h.

Severe winds

PAGASA reported that the surge of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds): Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern and eastern mainland Cagayan, eastern Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Aurora, CALABARZON, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Dinagat Islands.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

A gale warning was raised over the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon.

Mariners were advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels.

Track and intensity outlook

Ada is forecast to move generally eastward before turning south southeastward from today until Wednesday, 21 January.

"Continuous dry air entrainment from the northeast monsoon is expected to result in gradual weakening of Ada. It may be downgraded into a low pressure area by tomorrow, although earlier weakening remains possible," PAGASA also said. — BAP/KG, GMA Integrated News