THIRTEEN towns in Cagayan were placed under signal warning No. 3 yesterday as “Ramon” intensified into a typhoon from a severe tropical storm.
Six other provinces were under signal No. 2, together with the rest of Cagayan. These are Batanes, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
As this developed, a low pressure area spotted off Eastern Samar entered the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday morning. It may intensify into a tropical depression Tuesday night or this morning and will be named “Sarah.”
Ramon was first projected to make landfall between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Due to its slow movement, PAGASA revised its projection to Monday night and early Tuesday. Yesterday, the projection was again adjusted.
“Ramon is forecast to make landfall over the Babuyan Islands between tonight (Tuesday night) and tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Due to the land interaction and the northeast monsoon, this typhoon is forecast to weaken following landfall,” PAGASA said.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Ramon was some 120 km east of Calayan in Cagayan. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 165 kph and “moving almost stationary.”
The 13 Cagayan towns under signal No. 3 were Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Calayan, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana.
PAGASA said moderate with frequent heavy rains will prevail in Batanes, the northern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.
Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will be experienced in the northern portion of Isabela, Kalinga, Abra, and the rest of Cagayan and Ilocos Sur.
PAGASA warned of a storm surge of up to two meters in La Union and Pangasinan.
