‘Ramon’ maintains strength as LPA becomes tropical depression ‘Sarah’ — Pagasa
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2019 11:53:58 +0000
TYPHOON “Ramon” has maintained its strength as it approached Babuyan Islands while a Low Pressure Area (LPA) in Eastern Samar developed into a tropical depression to be called “Sarah” on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Signal No. 3 remains in 13 areas in the northern portion of Cagayan: Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Calayan, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana.
Signal No. 2 is up in Batanes, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and the rest of Cagayan.
Signal No. 1 is up in the northern portion of Isabela (Sta. Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Cabagan, Sto. Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Divilacan, Quirino, Roxas, Mallig, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu and Ilagan City), Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, La Union, Pangasinan.
As of 5 p.m., the center of “Ramon” was spotted at 120 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 165 kph.
Weather specialist Benison Estareja said moderate with frequent heavy rains would pour over Batanes, the northern portion of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, Apayao and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.
Estareja cited light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over the northern portion of Isabela, Kalinga, Abra and the rest of Cagayan and Ilocos Sur.
Pagasa warned against a possible storm surge of up to 2 meters in La Union and Pangasinan.
The weather expert warned residents in these areas against flooding and rain-induced landslides.
Estareja said “Sarah” was expected to intensify into a tropical storm within 24 hours, Pagasa said.
Sarah was located at 615 kms east-northwest of Borongan City or 765 kms east of Legazpi City, Albay.
Estareja said that it was moving northwest at 35 kph with maximum sustained winds of up to 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. FRANZ LEWIN EMBUDO