Severe tropical storm “Inday” (international name “Ampil”) has already left the country’s area of responsibility but another low pressure area (LPA) has developed into tropical depression “Josie.”
Before yesterday noon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted tropical cyclone Signal No. 1 over Batanes, northern Cagayan, Babuyan group of islands, Ilocos Norte, northern portion of Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and northern Abra.
Josie was located at 195 kilometers west-northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur around 10 a.m. Saturday, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 60 kph.
It is expected to move slowly northeast and leave the country’s area of responsibility by Monday.
Scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Zambales, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija due to Josie and southwest monsoon.
PAGASA reminded the public, especially those living near river channels, and in low-lying and mountainous areas to be on alert for possible flash flood or landslide.
Meanwhile, scattered light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are expected over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga and Aurora.
Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon, especially in areas under Signal No. 1.
Josie is the fourth tropical cyclone that affected the country this month. The other cyclones were Gardo, Henry and Inday. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)
