More areas were placed under tropical cyclone warnings as tropical storm “Ramon” (international name “Kalmaegi”) further intensified before its impending landfall over Cagayan last night or this morning.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration estimated the location of Ramon at 160 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan before noon yesterday.
The tropical cyclone further intensified further with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph and is moving west-northwest at 10 kph.
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said Ramon could become a severe tropical storm ahead of its landfall over Cagayan, most likely in the municipalities of Santa Ana or Gonzaga, between last night and this morning.
Tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Isabela, particularly Sta. Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Cabagan, Sto. Tomas, Quezon, Delfino Albano, Tumauini, and Divilacan; northern part of Ilocos Norte – Pagudpud, Burgos, Bangui, Dumalneg, and Adams – and Apayao and Kalinga.
Signal No. 1 was up in Batanes, rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern Aurora, particularly Dilasag, Casiguran, and Dinalungan, and the rest of Isabela.
Estareja said moderate with occasional heavy rains were being felt over the eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela while light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains were affecting the rest of Cagayan and Isabela, Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Aurora, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Abra, and Ilocos Norte as early as yesterday morning. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
