yphoon ‘Marce’ (International Name: Yinxing) maintains its strength as it moves northwestward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said.
According to the latest 5 AM advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), ‘Marce’ is moving northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kilometers per hour.
Its center was last estimated at 345 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised over the eastern portion of Babuyan islands and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.
Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the northern portion of Aurora.
The weather disturbance is forecast to move generally west northwestward today as it decelerates over the Philippine Sea east of Northern Luzon, then turn westward tomorrow as it approaches Babuyan Islands and northern Cagayan.
Based on the forecast track, the typhoon will make landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan from Thursday afternoon to Friday early morning, and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Friday evening.
“Marce” is expected to continue intensifying and may reach its peak intensity today before it makes landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or Cagayan tomorrow,” PAGASA warned.
