TROPICAL Storm Ramil slows down as it continues moving west northwest.
In the 8AM advisory of PAGASA, Ramil was located 260km east of Juban, Sorsogon. It has maximum sustained winds of 65km/hr with gustiness up to 80km/hr.
Also based on PAGASA’s monitoring, the tropical storm continues to move west northwest at the speed of 15km/hr.
As such, tropical cyclone wind signals are raised in the following areas.
TCWS No. 2:
- Camarines Norte
- Catanduanes
- northern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion)
- Polillo Islands
TCWS No. 1:
Luzon:
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat)
- eastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, City of Tarlac, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona)
- eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
- northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Polillo Islands
- rest of Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- Ticao Island
Visayas:
- Northern Samar
- northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
- northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)
PAGASA also warns the public about strong winds brought about by the trough and outer rainbands of TS Ramil, as well as the easterlies, in the coastal and mountain areas of the following:
Today:
- Cagayan Valley
- CALABARZON
- Metro Manila
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Marinduque
- Mindoro Provinces
- Masbate
October 19:
- CALABARZON
- Central Luzon
- Metro Manila
- Eastern Samar
There also remains a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge reaching 1 to 2 meters within 48 hours on the low-lying and coastal areas of the following provinces:
- Isabela
- Aurora
- Quezon
- Marinduque
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Romblon
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Samar (Western Samar)
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Zambales.
Meanwhile, a gale warning was issued at 5AM today over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon; as well as rough to very rough seas over the coastal waters of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, mainland Cagayan and Isabela, Polillo Islands, Aurora, Babuyan Islands, Batanes, and Northern Samar.
According to PAGASA, TS Ramil will move west northwest towards Central and Southern Luzon. It may make a landfall in Catanduanes this afternoon or evening, before making another landfall in Aurora or Isabela tomorrow, October 19, morning or afternoon.
As TS Ramil moves over the Philippine Sea, there is a possibility that it will intensify and become a severe tropical storm. While traversing the country’s landmass, it may maintain its strength or even slightly weaken. But once it is over the West Philippine Sea, TS Ramil may once again intensify.
TS Ramil is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday, October 20.