'Egay' batters north Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Seven areas in Northern Luzon remained under storm warning signal no. 1 yesterday as tropical depression “Egay” maintained its strength as it moved closer towards the Batanes-Calayan area at noon.

Signal no. 1 was still up over Isabela, Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao and Ilocos Norte as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said public storm warning signals in other areas affected by Egay were lowered yesterday afternoon.

Rene Paciente, PAGASA senior weather forecaster, however, said the whole of Luzon would continue to experience rains this week due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Egay only hugged the eastern seaboard and did not make landfall in Cagayan as earlier predicted.

Paciente said Egay was expected to make landfall over Cagayan last night.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Egay was spotted at 140 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.

The storm was forecast to move northwest at 19 kph.

Egay is expected to be 200 kms west of Basco, Batanes or 160 kms south southwest of southern Taiwan today.

“Egay is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over the western section of central and southern Luzon and Visayas,” Pagasa said.

Paciente said the intertropical convergence zone would continue to bring rains over Mindanao this week.

PAGASA is also monitoring two potential weather disturbances over the Pacific Ocean which may enter the country tomorrow and on June 26.

“Egay is expected to exit tomorrow but another weather disturbance might enter the country on Tuesday,” Paciente said.

PAGASA acting administrator Nathaniel Servando said the new weather disturbance was developing over Palau Island, which will be given the local name “Falcon” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility.

Paciente said the new disturbance was not expected to make landfall in any part of the country but it will enhance the southwest monsoon that would bring moderate to heavy rains over the country this week.

Weather officials also warned the public against venturing into the seas of Luzon and the Visayas due to big waves associated with Egay.

Egay is the fifth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second weather disturbance this month.

PAGASA expects two or three tropical cyclones for the month of June.