Tropical depression Pepito accelerates westward while maintaining its strength, the Pagasa severe weather bulletin said.
At 10:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression “PEPITO” was estimated based on all available data at 475 km East of Virac, Catanduanes (13.1 °N, 128.6 °E ).
Pepito is moving Westward at 30 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
It will move west-northwestward or northwestward today, then turn westward tomorrow towards the Northern Luzon-Central Luzon area. On the forecast track, the tropical cyclone is forecast to make landfall over the eastern coast of the Northern Luzon-Central Luzon area between tomorrow evening and Wednesday early morning. It may emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning.
Pepito is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm before it makes landfall. After crossing Luzon’s landmass, “PEPITO” may further intensify over the West Philippine Sea and may reach a severe tropical storm category by Thursday.
Today, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be experienced over Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangasamoro, Caraga, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.
Flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards. PAGASA Regional Services Divisions may issue local thunderstorm/rainfall advisories and heavy rainfall warnings as appropriate.
Areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 may experience occasional gusts in the next 36 hours. Based on available meteorological data, TCWS#1 may be raised over the eastern portion of Quirino and other municipalities in Isabela and Aurora in the next bulletin.
The northeasterly surface wind flows partly enhanced by Pepito may bring strong-force to near gale-force winds with occasional gusts over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and mountainous areas of northern Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar.
Moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.0 m) due to Pepito and the northeasterly surface wind flow will be experienced in the next 24 hours over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and Bicol Region and the seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.
Storm Signal No.1 Pepito
- The eastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Dinapigue, the eastern portion of San Mariano
- and the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran,Dilasag)