Emong brings strong winds to North Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday advised residents of Northern Luzon to brace for strong winds and heavy rains due to Tropical Depression Emong.

As of 5 p.m., Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, including the towns of Santa Ana and Gonzaga, as well as Babuyan Islands.

Emong was forecast to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands tonight until tomorrow afternoon.

It was expected to move northwest or north-northwest and intensify into a storm in the next 24 hours before crossing the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area Monday night and Tuesday morning.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Emong was spotted 780 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

It was moving north northwest at 25 kph.

Emong, the country’s fifth cyclone this year, is expected to weaken into a tropical depression by tomorrow afternoon and a low-pressure area by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a low-pressure area and the southwest monsoon will continue to bring rains over most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

The low-pressure area was located 225 km west of Calapan City, oriental Mindoro as of 3 p.m. Sunday.

The weather system was not expected to develop into a cyclone in the next 24 hours.

However, the low-pressure area and the southwest monsoon would bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, northern Quezon, including Polillo Islands, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Palawan, including Calamian Islands, Mindoro provinces and Antique.