Liwayway intensifies into storm

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Liwayway (international name Lingling) intensified into a storm yesterday and will continue to bring rains over parts of Northern Luzon today, the state weather bureau said.

As of 5 p.m., tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 was hoisted over Batanes.

Liwayway remained “less likely” to make landfall based on the 5 p.m. forecast issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

However, it will bring scattered rains and thunderstorms over Cagayan Valley and Aurora today.

 Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas will experience scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains until today due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Liwayway.

Scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains will prevail over Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Central Luzon this afternoon until tomorrow.

PAGASA warned residents in these areas to brace for possible flash floods and landslides.

The agency also cautioned the public against rough seas in the seaboards of Luzon and eastern Visayas.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Liwayway was located at 320 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. It packed winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Liwayway was moving north northwest at 30 kph. It was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow evening or Thursday morning, PAGASA weather forecaster Lorie de la Cruz said.

Liwayway is the 12th cyclone to enter the county this year and second this month.

The weather bureau also spotted a new low-pressure area off Zambales. As of 3 p.m., the weather system was estimated at 490 km west of Iba.

The low-pressure area may intensify into a tropical cyclone within 48 hours, De la Cruz said.