PAGASA: May intensify into storm category today
Tropical Depression “Aghon” maintained its strength as it continued to move west-northwestward over Sibuyan Sea, affecting a wide swathe of Luzon and Visayas.
In its 5:00 p.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said the eye of Aghon was estimated over the coastal waters of Sibuyan Island, moving at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center.
The Philippine Coast Guard reported Saturday that over 6,833 passengers and truck drivers in the Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Southern Tagalog, and even Northeastern Mindanao regions were stranded due to Tropical Depression Aghon.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its field office in Bicol, provided hot meals to more than 2,000 stranded passengers in various ports across the region yesterday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) likewise issued an alert for all airports in the Bicol region due to the potential impact of Aghon.
PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) 1 remained hoisted over the eastern portion of Quirino, the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, the eastern portion of Pampanga, Quezon, Aurora, Polillo Islands, the eastern portion of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, the eastern portion of Batangas, Marinduque, the northeastern and eastern portion of Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Masbate, Ticao and Burias Islands.
Aghon could make landfall over Marinduque within the next 12 hours.
Upon making landfall, PAGASA said Aghon will continue to move northward and may possibly make another landfall over Batangas or Quezon and traverse the Calabarzon area.
“Re-intensification is possible and it may reach tropical storm category by Sunday (today),” PAGASA said.
Around Sunday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said Aghon will begin to recurve towards the northeast.
“As it moves over the Philippine Sea, the tropical cyclone is forecast to continuously intensify and may reach typhoon category on Wednesday,” it said.
The tropical cyclone may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility no earlier than Tuesday, the weather bureau added.