Manila: Severe Tropical Storm Emong continues to weaken, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 160 kph, the weather bureau said in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Friday. It was located in the vicinity of Calanasan, Apayao province as of 10 a.m.
According to Philippines News Agency, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is still hoisted over the northeastern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Piddig, Vintar, Adams, and Carasi), the northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan and Luna), and the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, and Pamplona). Storm-force winds will prevail in these areas.
Gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 2: the rest of Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Santa, Caoayan, City of Vigan, Bantay, Santa Catalina, San Vicente, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, Magsingal, San Juan, Cabugao, and Sinait), the rest of Apayao, the northern portion of Abra (Pidigan, San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Sallapadan, Lagangilang, Danglas, La Paz, Licuan-Baay, Tineg, Malibcong, Pe±arrubia, San Isidro, San Quintin, Dolores, Lagayan, Bangued, Bucay, and Lacub), Batanes, and the northern and western portion of mainland Cagayan (Piat, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Buguey, Aparri, Allacapan, Rizal, Lasam, Ballesteros, Abulug, and Santo Ni±o).
Areas under Signal No. 1 will experience strong winds: the rest of Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Santol, City of San Fernando, San Juan, Bagulin, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Sudipen, and Balaoan), the rest of Abra, the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, and Buguias), Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the rest of mainland Cagayan, and the northern portion of Isabela (Quirino, Mallig, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Maconacon, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Roxas, and San Manuel).
Emong has been enhancing the southwest monsoon, which will bring strong to gale-force gusts across Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, the Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, and Davao Oriental. Both Emong and the southwest monsoon will bring heavy rains over Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Zambales, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Aurora, Quirino, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Antique, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Tarlac, Laguna, and Occidental Mindoro.
A gale warning is still in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Emong will continue to weaken and likely exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday.
