Tropical Storm Pepito maintains its strength as it moves closer towards Aurora-Isabela area, Pagasa said on its recent severe weather bulletin.
At 1:00 PM today, the center of Tropical Storm Pepito was estimated based on all available data at 195 km East of Baler, Aurora (15.9 °N, 123.4 °E ).
It is moving West Northwestward at 25 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
Tropical Storm Pepito will move west-northwestward until tonight and will turn westward while crossing the Luzon landmass. “PEPITO” is forecast to make landfall over the coast of Aurora-Isabela area between 7:00 and 11:00 PM today.
It will then cross the Luzon landmass, and emerge over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow morning. This tropical cyclone may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning.
After crossing the landmass of Luzon, Tropical Storm Pepito is forecast to intensify and may reach a severe tropical storm category by Thursday.
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.
Tropical Storm Pepito Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal
Signal No.1
- Abra,Kalinga,Mountain Province,Bulacan,Pampanga,Bataan,Metro Manila,Rizal,the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Paracale,Jose Panganiban,Capalonga,Vinzons),Catanduanes,the rest of northern portion of Quezon (Infanta,Real)
- and the rest of Zambales
Signal No.2
- La Union,Pangasinan,Ifugao,Benguet,Nueva Vizcaya,Quirino,Nueva Ecija,Tarlac,Aurora, the southern portion of Isabela (Palanan,San Mariano,Benito Soliven,Naguilian,Gamu,Burgos,San Manuel,Aurora,Cabatuan,Luna,Reina Mercedes,Cauayan City,Dinapigue,San Guillermo,Angadanan,Alicia,San Mateo,Ramon,San Isidro,Echague,San Agustin,Jones,Santiago City,Cordon),the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon,Alilem,Tagudin),the northern portion of Zambales (Iba,Palauig,Masinloc,Candelaria,Santa Cruz,Botolan,Cabangan)
- and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar)
High to gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 and 2. High to gale-force winds with occasional gusts due to the northeasterly surface wind flow will be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and/or mountainous areas of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
At 10:00 AM today, the Tropical Depression outside the PAR was estimated based on all available data at 1,735 km East Northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon (24.4N, 138.3E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. It is moving north-northwestward at 15 km/h. This disturbance is less likely to enter the PAR.