TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Aparri has prohibited all passenger and fishing boats to sail the turbulent seas brought by Tropical Storm Isang on Monday, August 21.
The PCG also confirmed that there are no records of stranded passengers in the ports of Aparri, Claveria, and Santa Ana.
‘Isang’ (international name “Hato”) maintained its strength and speed, moving west-northwest at 15 kph to extreme northern Luzon, the state weather bureau reported in its 5 pm update.
Isang’s eye is now approximately 170 km east of Basco, Batanes, reported the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Isang still has maximum sustained winds of 80 kph and gustiness of up to 97 kph, which has increased from 65 kph sustained winds and 80 kph gustiness in the morning.
Estimated moderate to occasionally heavy rains are now expected within the 400 km diameter of the tropical storm, compared to the covered 300 km earlier in the day.
Signal no. 2 is still raised in Batanes while Babuyan group of Islands remains at signal no. 1.
PAGASA has advised local disaster risk reduction management councils to be on high alert especially on coastal areas where storm surge is possible. Flights from Basco to Manila and vice-versa have also been cancelled.
The weather agency maintained that Isang will “enhance the southwest monsoon which may bring light to moderate with possible occasionally heavy rains.” Nearby regions such as Metro Manila will also experience rainfall.
Isang is expected to be at its closest to Batanes tonight or tomorrow morning, August 22, where it is predicted to be 255 km west-northwest of Basco. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday, August 23. Northernforum.net