Tropical Storm (TS) “Pepito” slightly intensified as it threatens Aurora province with possible landfall over its coast on Tuesday evening, the weather bureau said on Tuesday.
Pepito now packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 90 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.
The TS was last tracked 110 km. east of Baler, Aurora, moving west-northwestward at 30 kph.
PAGASA maintained that Pepito may reach the severe tropical storm category by Thursday, but also forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on that day.
Moderate to heavy rains will continue over Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Camarines Norte, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, mainland Cagayan, La Union, Pangasinan, and Benguet.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and BARMM.
Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards.
Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 2 is still hoisted over La Union, Pangasinan, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Aurora, the southern portion of Isabela, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of Zambales, and the northern portion of Quezon.
On the other hand, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, the rest of the northern portion of Quezon, and the rest of Zambales are still under TCWS no. 1.
High to gale force winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS no. 2 and 1. High to gale force winds with occasional gusts will prevail over Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and/or mountainous areas of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte due to the northeasterly surface wind flow.
Gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte, and the western seaboards of Batangas and Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Island) due to rough to very rough seas.
The seaboards of areas under TCWS no. 2 and 1 will also experience rough to very rough seas.
Moderate to rough seas will be experienced over Palawan and the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and the Davao Region, PAGASA said. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
