By ELLALYN V. RUIZ
Tropical depression “Quinta” is seen to steadily intensify and become a severe tropical storm ahead of its landfall over the Bicol region between Sunday night and Monday morning.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 1 over Catanduanes before noon Saturday.
Catanduanes may experience 30 to 60 kilometers per hour winds or intermittent rains within 36 hours from the time the tropical cyclone warning was raised.
Signal No. 1 may be also raised over Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur in the next bulletin at 5 p.m.
PAGASA last observed Quinta around 10 a.m. Saturday at 660 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar or 730 kms east of Juban, Sorsogon, moving at 30 kph with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
PAGASA’s projection shows the tropical cyclone moving generally west-northwest or northwest Saturday, turn west by Sunday morning through Monday towards Bicol. It may continue to move west and cross Southern Luzon Monday on its way to the West Philippine Sea.
As Quinta is still over the sea, it could steadily intensify into a tropical storm (with maximum wind speed from 62 to 88 kph) within 12 hours and may become a severe tropical storm (with maximum wind speed of 89 to 117 kph) prior to landfall, the State weather bureau said.
After crossing the Philippine archipelago, the tropical cyclone may continue intensifying over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said.
As early as Saturday, the trough or advancing clouds of Quinta, as well as the extension of typhoon “Saudel” (called “Pepito” in the country) will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, most of Visayas, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
A stationary front currently extending over extreme Northern Luzon associated with the surge of cold northeasterly winds will bring moderate to heavy rains over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the northern portions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte.
