Onyok continues to bring rains in Northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Onyok continued to bring heavy rains and gusty winds over extreme Northern Luzon yesterday as it moved away from the country.

As of 5 p.m., tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 remained hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the rain band of Onyok was bringing occasional light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Batanes.

Meanwhile, scattered rainshowers will prevail over Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, that may trigger floods and landslides.

Onyok, the 15th cyclone to enter the country this year and the fifth in September, remained unlikely to hit Philippine landmass.

If it maintains its present speed and direction, Onyok was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility last night or this morning, according to PAGASA senior weather forecaster Chris Perez.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of the typhoon was spotted at 320 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

It was forecast to move north at 20 kph.

Fishermen and operators of small sea vessels have been warned against sailing across the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and in areas under signal No. 1 due to potentially rough sea conditions.

This month, two to three tropical cyclones were predicted by PAGASA to enter the country.

The usual tracks of cyclones in October are Central Luzon, the Visayas and Northern Mindanao, the agency said.