MANILA, Philippines – Tropical storm “Marce” (international name Sinlaku) gained strength yesterday and remained a threat to northern Luzon, bringing heavy rains and strong winds, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
In a phone interview, Pagasa weather branch chief Nathaniel Cruz said although Marce is no longer expected to make landfall over northern Cagayan today, it would still bring heavy rains and gusty winds over northern Luzon provinces in the next three days.
“Marce is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds over northern and southern Luzon and the western section of central Luzon including the provinces of Zambales and Tarlac by Wednesday and Thursday,” Cruz said.
He said Marce is expected to stay inside the Philippine area of responsibility in the next three days.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm warning signal no. 2 remained up in Cagayan including Babuyan and Batanes Group of Islands.
Signal no. 1 was still hoisted over Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Ifugao.
At 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Marce was spotted at 340 kilometers east-southeast of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.
Cruz said Marce is likely to intensify within the next 24 hours as it moved northwest at 11 kph.
Marce is expected to be at 200 kms northeast of Aparri this afternoon and at 400 kms north-northeast of Aparri or 200 kms north-northeast of Basco, Batanes by tomorrow afternoon.
By Friday afternoon, it would be at 460 kms east-northeast of Basco.
Cruz said Marce would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat and bring rains over Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas.
He said gradually improving weather is expected by Friday especially in Metro Manila.
Marce was the 13th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first this month.