Signals up as Tropical Depression Jenny approaches

MANILA, Philippines — Rains will prevail over Luzon and some parts of Visayas and Mindanao until Thursday, as the low pressure area off Virac, Catanduanes has intensified into Tropical Depression Jenny.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 was hoisted over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, the eastern portion of Pangasinan, northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Island, and Catanduanes.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said signal No. 1 was also expected to be raised over Ilocos Norte, Babuyan Islands and the rest of Pangasinan.

Areas under signal 1 can expect gusty winds of up to 60 kilometers per hour and intermittent rains within 36 hours, PAGASA said.

Raymond Ordinario, PAGASA senior weather forecaster, said Jenny was forecast to make landfall over the Isabela-Aurora area between today and tomorrow.

Jenny entered the Philippine area of responsibility just two days after severe Tropical Storm Ineng battered Northern Luzon over the weekend, leaving at least two people dead, and affected a total of 8,008 families in 156 barangays in Regions I, II and III.

Melchito Castro, OCD Region 1 director, said the initial damage left by Ineng in Ilocos Norte has reached almost P600 million as of yesterday morning.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said around 601 persons are being served inside 16 evacuation centers.

Those being housed in different evacuation shelters are residents of Ilocos Norte, La Union, Batanes and Zambales.

Brace for possible floods and rain-induced landslides

Jenny will continue to bring light to moderate rains with intermittent heavy rains over Caraga, Eastern Visayas and Bicol region until this afternoon.

Moderate to heavy rains, meanwhile, will prevail over Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, northern Aurora, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur and La Union until tomorrow.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will affect Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, the rest of Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon. PAGASA warned the public to brace for possible floods and rain-induced landslides.

The weather bureau also cautioned coastal residents in areas under signal No. 1 against rough sea conditions.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Jenny was spotted at 670 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It was moving northwest at a speed of 25 kph.

It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday, Ordinario said.

However, it is likely to enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring rains over the western side of Palawan, Mimaropa and Eastern Visayas as it moves away from the country. – With Eva Visperas, Michael Punongbayan