Tropical Depression Luis holds strength east of Aurora; 10 areas under Signal No. 1

Tropical Depression Luis maintains its strength while over the sea east of Aurora province, state weather bureau PAGASA said, as Signal No. 1 remained in effect over 10 areas.

In its 2 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Luis was estimated at 185 kilometers east northeast of Baler, Aurora, or 125 km east of Casiguran, Aurora. It is moving west northwestward at 15 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

The following areas in Luzon are under Signal No. 1:

• the central and eastern portions of Cagayan (Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga, Alcala, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Solana, Rizal, Santa Ana, Gattaran, Iguig, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Pamplona)
• Isabela
• Quirino
• the eastern and southern portions of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Conner, Pudtol, Luna)
• the eastern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Tanudan, Pinukpuk, Rizal)
• the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin)
• the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista)
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dipaculao, Baler)
• Polillo Islands
• the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Daet, Talisay, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Vinzons)

Luis will continue to move generally northwestward and may make landfall over Northern Luzon Monday afternoon or evening. Afterwards, it will slowly turn northeastward then east northeastward while moving away from the Philippine landmass.

"The forecast track is highly uncertain and may change in the succeeding bulletins," PAGASA said.

It added Luis is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours while moving over the sea east of Central Luzon.

"Once it makes landfall or close approach to Northern Luzon, it may weaken into a tropical depression. Afterwards, a weakening trend is expected and may be downgraded into a remnant low by Wednesday (05 August) before becoming fully assimilated into the circulation of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin," PAGASA added. —LDF, GMA News