(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 1 has been raised over several areas in Northern Luzon as well as in Bicol Region due to Tropical Depression Mirasol, the weather bureau said on Tuesday
Nathaniel Servando, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said areas affected include Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Quezon, Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Bambang, Ambaguio, Bayombong, Solano, Villaverde and Bagabag), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao and Baler), Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte and Polillo Islands.
Also under the same storm signal were the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Talisay, Daet and Mercedes), the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Lagonoy, Siruma, Tinambac, Goa and San Jose), and Catanduanes in Bicol Region.
Moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), the center of the tropical depression was estimated some 210 kilometers east-northeast of Infanta, Quezon, the national weather agency said.
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, it added.
“Mirasol” may make landfall in Isabela or northern portion of Aurora by Wednesday morning, Pagasa said.
“However, a more north-northwestward or northward movement will likely result to no landfall scenario and will just move over the coastal waters of Northern and Central Luzon,” Servando said.
He said the tropical cyclone will re-emerge over the Luzon Strait and will continue moving north-northwestward until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Thursday afternoon and evening.
Once it is over the West Philippine Sea, “Mirasol” is forecast to intensify and reach tropical storm category in the same day, the Pagasa official said.
