Tropical depression ‘Ramil’ maintained its strength while moving west southwestward over the Philippine Sea and is expected to hit Catanduanes on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In an updated weather advisory released on Friday afternoon, PAGASA said ‘Ramil’ was tracked at 640 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon. It was moving west southwestward at 25 km per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
After making a landfall in Catanduanes, ‘Ramil’ is expected to west northwestward as it passes close or over mainland Bicol Region by Saturday evening. Afterwards, it will continue moving west northwestward and may make another landfall over Aurora or Quezon on Sunday, October 19.
“After landfall, RAMIL may traverse the rugged terrain of Northern or Central Luzon and will emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Sunday afternoon or evening and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday (20 October) morning or afternoon,” PAGASA said in its advisory.
The state weather bureau noted that a southward shift could bring the cyclone to a different location, which might warrant the inclusion of more localities under wind signals. ‘Ramil’ is projected to intensify further while over the Philippine Sea.
As of this posting, the tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 remains over the following areas:
LUZON
The southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue), the eastern and southern portions of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan), the southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda), Aurora, the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Pantabangan, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, San Jose City, Llanera, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Peñaranda, City of Gapan), the eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso), the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Pollilo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Ticao Island.
VISAYAS
Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid), the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)
