The weather bureau expects tropical depression “Enteng” to reach tropical storm category today and intensify even further later this week.
On late Sunday afternoon, the storm was observed intensifying over the waters of northeast Northern Samar with its eye placed at around 110 kilometers east-northeast of Catarman town.
“It is forecast to remain at this category until early Wednesday. It may also reach a peak category of typhoon by Thursday or Friday,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a bulletin.
It was moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
“Enteng” was expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes or Albay early this morning.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was raised over the southeastern portion of Cagayan, the northern portion of Aurora, Polillo Islands, the southern portion of mainland Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, includeing Ticao and Burias Islands, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran and the northeastern portion of Leyte.
In Luzon, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over the eastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Dinapigue), the eastern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan), the eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Mercedes, Basud), the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Presentacion, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Calabanga, Naga City, Pili, Bombon, Magarao, Ocampo, Baao, Nabua, Bula, Balatan, Bato, Milaor, Minalabac, Camaligan, Saglay, Iriga City, Buhi, Tigaon, San Jose, Goa, Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Canaman, Gainza, San Fernando), Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Ticao Island
In Visayas TCWS No. 1 was hoisted over Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and the northeastern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Barugo)
“Forecast rainfall is generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas. Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in official hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.” PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, PAGASA warned of serious flooding and landslides in Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and parts of Cebu.
In a red rainfall warning issued on Sunday afternoon, the weather bureau urged residents in low-lying areas and coastal communities in these jurisdictions to evacuate to higher ground.
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