The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised flood and landslide warnings for residents in Northern and Central Luzon as tropical depression “Domeng” intensified into a storm Wednesday (Aug 4).
Storm warning signal no. 2 was hoisted over Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Calayan Islands, Isabela and Batanes Group of Islands as of 4 p.m.
Signal no. 1 now covers Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Kalinga, Abra, Apayao, La Union and Ilocos provinces.
Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo said Domeng is likely to make landfall over Batanes or Northern Cagayan on Thursday (Aug 5).
Nilo said Domeng has merged with the low-pressure area east of Batanes and intensified into a tropical storm.
At around 4 p.m. Wednesday, the eye of the storm was spotted some 430 km east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Domeng was forecast to move west at 19 kph.
Pagasa said Cagayan, including Babuyan and Calayan Islands, Isabela and Batanes Group of Islands would experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas.The rest of Northern Luzon, Nueva Ecija and Aurora would experience rains with gusty winds.
