‘Ramon’ weakens, ‘Sarah’ intensifies
Credit to Author: Franz Lewin Embudo| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:37:02 +0000
Typhoon “Ramon” on Wednesday weakened into a tropical depression as it crossed the Ifugao area, while “Sarah” intensified into a tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Signal No. 1 remained hoisted in Batanes, Cagayan; including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur; the western portion of Isabela; Mountain Province; Benguet; Ifugao; La Union and Pangasinan.
In a 2 p.m. bulletin, Pagasa said, Ramon was spotted in the vicinity of Aguinaldo, Ifugao.
It was moving south toward Iba, Zambales at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum winds of up to 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said light to moderate with occasional heavy rains would be experienced over Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Apayao and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.
Ordinario cited strong to gale force winds prevailing over Batanes and Babuyan Islands because of the surge of Northeast Monsoon.
According to Pagasa, light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains would pour over Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Isabela, La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya and the rest of Ilocos Norte.
The Ordinario warned residents in these areas against flooding and rain-induced landslides.
Ramon is expected to weaken into a low pressure area within 24 hours, he added.
Meanwhile, the weather specialist added that Sarah had intensified into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of up to 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
It was moving north-northwest at 20 kph toward Aurora and Quezon province.
Sarah was located at 715 km east northeast of Infanta, Quezon or 640 km east of Casiguran, Aurora.