Tropical Storm Ramil set to leave PAR; Signal No. 1 still up

MANILA, Philippines, October 20 ------ Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Monday morning after bringing rains and strong winds to northern and western Luzon, according to the state weather bureau.

In its early morning bulletin, PAGASA said Ramil was last spotted 350 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 80 kph while moving northwest at 25 kph.

Signal No. 1

Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over the following areas, which are warned of strong winds in 36 hours, as of Monday morning, October 20:

• Ilocos Norte

• Ilocos Sur

• La Union

• Abra

• Western Benguet

• Parts of Pangasinan

The storm’s trough and outer rainbands, along with the easterlies, are also bringing gusty conditions to Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, and Occidental Mindoro, PAGASA said.

Outlook. Ramil is forecast to intensify into a severe tropical storm as it tracks west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea after exiting the PAR. Residents in affected regions were advised to stay alert for possible flash floods and landslides, and to follow local disaster officials’ evacuation advisories.

Sea conditions. The agency warned of storm surges up to 2 meters along low-lying coastal areas of La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan within the next 12 hours. Sea travel is risky for small vessels due to rough seas reaching 3 meters off the northwestern seaboard of Ilocos Norte and moderate seas up to 2.5 meters along nearby coasts.

Casualties. Ramil caused several fatal incidents. A vlogger in Capiz drowned after slipping into a creek, while a family of five in Quezon was killed when a palm tree fell on their home as they slept.

Source: philstar.com