Tropical depression ‘Mirasol’ is forecast to keep moving generally northwestward and may intensify further into a tropical storm until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday morning, September 18, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.
In a 5:00 p.m. advisory on Wednesday, ‘Mirasol’ was tracked over Kabugao, Apayao, moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
PAGASA said the cyclone is expected to re-emerge over the coastal waters of Ilocos Norte tonight and will maintain its strength as it crosses the northern Luzon landmass.
“Once it is over the waters west of Ilocos Norte, it is forecast to intensify and may reach tropical storm category tonight or tomorrow (Thursday) early morning. MIRASOL will remain as a tropical storm throughout the forecast period,” PAGASA noted.
As of this posting, the following provinces and locations remain under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1:
ILOCOS REGION
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union (Luna, Bangar, Sudipen, Santol, San Gabriel, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, City of San Fernando, Bagulin)
CAGAYAN VALLEY
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela (Santo Tomas, Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Santa Maria, Quezon, Ramon, Naguilian, Roxas, Luna, Delfin Albano, City of Cauayan, San Pablo, Ilagan City, City of Santiago, Tumauini, Cabagan, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Quirino, Gamu, San Isidro, Mallig, Cordon, Maconacon, Burgos, Divilacan)
- Quirino (Diffun, Saguday)
- Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Ambaguio, Bayombong, Villaverde, Solano, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi)
CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
- Apayao
- Abra
- Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Atok, Kibungan, Kapangan, Bokod)
- Ifugao
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
