The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised wind signal no. 1 over parts of Northern Luzon on Wednesday due to the effects of tropical depression ‘Salome,’ which maintained its strength as it accelerated southward of the region.
As of 8:00 p.m. on October 22, PAGASA said the latest cyclone was estimated at 160 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It was moving southward at 25 km per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
“’Salome’ is forecast to move generally southwestward throughout the forecast period due to the high pressure area over mainland China,” the state weather bureau said in its latest advisory. It expects the cyclone to make a landfall over Batanes either tonight or tomorrow (October 23).
PAGASA noted that the weather disturbance may also pass close or over the Babuyan Islands in Cagayan Valley by Thursday morning and Ilocos Norte in the afternoon. ‘Salome’ is likely to remain a tropical depression throughout the forecast period, but its slight intensification is not ruled out.
As of this posting, tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 remains over Batanes, the western portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan and Dalupiri Islands), and the northwestern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Pagudpud, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Laoag City).
