By ELLALYN V. RUIZ
Northern Luzon braces for an extended stormy weather condition as tropical storm “Sarah” (international name “Fung-wong”) threatens to make landfall over Cagayan towards the weekend.
Tropical depression “Ramon” (international name “Kalmaegi”) had just made landfall over Santa Ana, Cagayan around 12:20 a.m. yesterday, a week after it developed into a tropical cyclone and moved erratically over the Philippine Sea.
Before noon yesterday, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said tropical cyclone warnings have been lowered to Signal No. 1 in areas affected by Ramon.
These are Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, western Isabela (Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Burgos, Aurora, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Cauayan, Ramon, Alicia, Angadanan, San Isidro, Santiago, and Cordon), Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, La Union, and Pangasinan.
However, some areas in the eastern section of Luzon were once again placed under Signal No. 1 due to the approaching Sarah.
Areas under Signal No. 1 are the eastern portion of Cagayan (Calayan, Aparri, Baggao, Alcala, Gattaran, Lal-lo, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Sta. Ana, Gonzaga, Buguey, and Ballesteros), and northeastern Isabela (Divilacan, Tumauini, Cabagan, Maconacon, and San Pablo).
As of noon yesterday, Ramon was in the vicinity of Roxas, Isabela, moving south-southwest at 20 kph, and has further weakened further into a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Ordinario said Ramon could further weaken into a low- pressure area or dissipate as it moves toward the West Philippine Sea within 24 hours.
Sarah, on the other hand, was at 715 kms east-northeast of Infanta, Quezon or 640 kms east of Casiguran, Aurora at noon yesterday. It has intensified into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up yo 80 kph.
Should it maintain its north-northwest movement at 20 kph, Sarah will likely make landfall over Cagayan tomorrow. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
