Tropical Storm Ramil intensified early Saturday as it continued moving westward toward Luzon, bringing heavy rain and strong winds across a wide area of the country.
The state weather bureau said the storm was last spotted 305 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph. It is moving west at 20 kph.
“Ngayong araw nga po ay mas mararamdaman na natin yung direct effect neto ni Baguiyong Ramil sa malaking bahagi po ng Luzon,” PAGASA forecaster Grace Castañeda said.
“Masungit na panahon na po yung mararanasan natin dito sa bahagi ng Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur at sa area din po ng Catanduanes,” she added.
Scattered rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds are expected in parts of Eastern Visayas, particularly Samar provinces, the rest of Bicol, Quezon, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Isabela. Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and Visayas will also experience rain due to Ramil’s trough or extension.
She said the storm is likely to make its first landfall over Catanduanes Saturday afternoon or evening before moving toward Camarines Norte and possibly making another landfall over Aurora or Quezon by Sunday morning or afternoon.
“And during its passage, nakikita po natin na mamaintain niya yung intensity nito na tropical storm,” Castañeda said.
“Hanggang bukas po yung peak na mararamdaman natin yung direct effect nito ni Baguiyong Ramil dito po sa malaking bahagi ng Luzon,” she added.
Wind Signal No. 2 is raised over Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, and the northern part of Camarines Sur. Signal No. 1 is in effect over Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, eastern portions of Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, northern and eastern portions of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias and Ticao Islands, Northern Samar, northern parts of Eastern Samar, and northern Samar.
PAGASA warned of possible flooding and landslides, especially in areas expecting 100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall in Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. By Sunday, heavy rains are also expected in Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.
A gale warning is in effect for the seaboards of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.
There is also a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge in coastal areas of Albay, Aurora, Bataan, Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Ilocos region, Isabela, La Union, Marinduque, Masbate, Northern Samar, Pangasinan, Quezon, Samar, Sorsogon, and Zambales.
PAGASA advised residents in low-lying coastal communities to evacuate to higher ground and warned against sea travel, swimming, and fishing activities while the storm remains in the area.
