‘Basyang’ now a storm, 7 areas under Signal No. 1

Tropical cyclone "Basyang" (international code name Conson) intensified further into a tropical storm on Monday afternoon and continued to move toward Northern Luzon, prompting state weather forecasters to place seven areas in Luzon under Storm Signal No. 1. In its 5 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Basyang" may make landfall over Isabela and Northern Aurora Tuesday evening. "Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Island, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes will experience rains and gusty winds," it said. "The rest of Luzon and Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it added. Placed under Storm Signal No. 1 were Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Polillo Island, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes. As of 4 p.m., "Basyang" was estimated at 440 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was moving west-northwest at 22 kph and is expected to be 200 km north of Virac, Catanduanes Tuesday afternoon. By Tuesday evening it is expected to make landfall over Isabela-Northern Aurora. By Wednesday afternoon it is expected to be over Sinait, Ilocos Sur. On Thursday afternoon it is forecast to be 300 kms northwest of Laoag City. "Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under signal # 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides," Pagasa said. Meanwhile, Pagasa said moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to Northwest will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elswhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Southeast and Southwest with light to moderate seas. - KBK, GMANews.TV