Erratic Ramil may not make Luzon landfall, says Pagasa

Tropical Storm Ramil (Lupit) continues to move slowly away to Japan and is unlikely to make its expected Sunday landfall in northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said Saturday. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ramil's was zigzaging north-northeastward and slowly out of the Philippine area of responsibility. "Mukhang hindi na siya tatama ng Luzon (It might not hit Luzon)," Pagasa weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz told GMANews.TV on Saturday morning. Cruz said that even though Ramil has not directly crossed northern Luzon as earlier forecast, it has battered parts of the Cagayan province with strong winds and rains in the past few days. Its effect had also been felt largely in the Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes island groups in extreme northern Philippines. "Parang nag-landfall na rin siya kung tutuusin because of the swath of rain (It already made landfall in a way, because of the swath of rain)," he said. Despite Ramil's recent movement, at least two areas remained under Storm Signal No. 3 as of 4 a.m. Saturday. “Extreme Northern Luzon will have stormy weather. Central Luzon and the rest of Northern Luzon, Palawan and Eastern Visayas will be cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. It added that moderate to strong winds blowing from the northwest to southwest will prevail over the rest of Luzon, and coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the west to southwest with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms. Pagasa’s forecast on the course of Ramil jibed with that of the Japan Meteorological Agency, whose 5:45 a.m. forecast indicated Ramil will move north-northeast away from the country. However, the JMA forecast indicated winds from Ramil are still likely to affect parts of Northern Luzon. Pagasa’s 5 a.m. advisory said Ramil was 240 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 150 km east-southeast of Basco, Batanes as of 4 a.m. Ramil packed maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move north-northeast slowly and be 200 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes Sunday morning, and 310 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes Monday morning. By Tuesday morning it is expected to be 420 km northeast of Basco, Batanes. Areas under Storm Signal No.3 include the Batanes and Calayan Islands. Areas under Signal No. 2 include northern Cagayan and Babuyan island. Under Signal No. 1 are the rest of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao. Pagasa reminded residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under storm signals to take precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. It also advised those living along the coast in areas under signals #2 and #3 to be on alert against storm surge and big waves. Pagasa also said strong to gale force winds are expected to affect seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. “Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. - Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV