The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has predicted heavy to intense rains over parts of northern Luzon during the weekend due to tropical depression Obet.
The weather agency, in an advisory, said Obet maintained its strength while moving north-northwest over the Philippine Sea.
Moderate to heavy with intermittent rains are possible over Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and the northern portion of mainland Cagayan from Friday through Saturday, PAGASA said.
Batanes, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, and the rest of mainland Cagayan will also experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.
PAGASA warned residents of these areas against flooding and rain-induced landslides.
Most of these places have yet to recover from the onslaught of typhoon Neneng earlier this month.
The weather bureau said it might raise wind warning signals for some areas in northern Luzon on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
Moving at 15 kilometers per hour, Obet may cross extreme northern Luzon or the northern portion of mainland Luzon between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Obet may become a tropical storm. It is likely to further intensify once it reaches the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said.
The tropical depression was last spotted 1,025 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon at 10 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and 55 kph gusts, PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, the shear line and the southwesterly surface wind flow will continue to cause rains over parts of the country, the weather bureau said Wednesday.
Both will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas and the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao.
Obet packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
It was last tracked 1,055 km. east of extreme northern Luzon.
Obet is forecast to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and the northern portion of mainland Cagayan beginning Friday.
No tropical cyclone wind signal was hoisted on any part of the country, but the northeasterly surface wind flow will cause strong to gale-force winds over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte in the next 24 hours.
Winds associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow will also cause rough to very rough seas over the northern, eastern, and western seaboards of northern Luzon.
PAGASA advised fishing boats and other small sea vessels not to venture out to the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
