11 areas under signal 1 as 'Tino' veers southwest to NLuzon

(UPDATE 1- Nov. 3, 12:41 a.m.) Eleven areas in northern Luzon are now under Storm Signal No. 1 as tropical depression Tino made an unexpected turn to the southwest Monday evening, threatening anew the provinces of northern Luzon that have borne the brunt of cyclones Pepeng and Ramil in past weeks. In its 11:00 p.m. Monday bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tino's center as of 10:00 p.m. Monday was located 200 kms east of Tuguegarao. Pagasa said Tino maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph as it moved west at 11 kph. If it continues on its present course, the tropical depression will cross the provinces of Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur on Tuesday. By Tuesday evening Tino is expected to be 90 kms east southeast of Vigan City. In a radio interview over dzBB on Monday evening, Pagasa forecaster Manny Mendoza said a high-pressure area in mainland China could possibly push tropical depression Tino southward, but it could also be pulled northward by the tail-end of a cold front. Mendoza also said that there was also the possibility of the cyclone becoming stationary if the high-pressure area in China interacted with the tail-end of the cold front. To complicate matters, the Pagasa forecaster also mentioned still two other possibilities. First, that the cyclone gain strength because of the influence of a northeasterly wind flow, also known as amihan (northeast monsoon). And second, that the cyclone dissipate because of the onset of the cold season that will bring in a "dry and cold air mass." Asked which of these various possibilities had the highest likelihood, Mendoza said "based on their models" that Tino would most likely dissipate into a low-pressure area and merge into the tail-end of the cold front that will pull it northward. Meanwhile, storm signal No. 1 is now hoisted over the Batanes group, Cagayan (including Babuyan and Calayan islands), Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, and Northern Aurora. Pagasa continued to reminded residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes to take precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. It added the rest of Northern Luzon will have occasional rains and gusty winds due to the surge of the northeast monsoon. - GMANews.TV