'Isang' now a storm; 3 areas under signal 1

MANILA, Philippines - Three areas were placed under Signal No. 1 as tropical cyclone "Isang" intensified into a storm and is now threatening eastern Luzon, state weather forecasters said Thursday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also said rains and thunderstorms loom over parts of Luzon and the Visayas. "Cagayan, Isabela and Northern Aurora will experience rains and occasional gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with scattered to widespread rains over the western sections of Southern Luzon and Western Visayas," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin Thursday. Under Storm Signal No. 1 are Cagayan, Isabela, and Northern Aurora. As of 4 a.m. Thursday, Pagasa said Isang was 225 km north northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It said Isang was moving west northwest at 17 kph and is expected to be 70 km northeast of Tuguegarao City Friday morning. By Saturday morning it is expected to be 205 km northwest of Laoag City. By Sunday morning it is expected to be 550 km northwest of Laoag City. "Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. - GMANews.TV