Storm signal No. 1 raised over Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora

MANILA, Philippines - Storm warning signal no. 1 has been hoisted over Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, including Polillo Island, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes as tropical storm “Basyang” (international name: Conson), the second weather disturbance to enter the country this year, continued to intensify yesterday.

But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Basyang will not bring enough rains to raise the critically-low water levels at Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan, that supplies water in Metro Manila.

“Basically (Pagasa) models do not indicate the possibility that Basyang will enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring sufficient rains over some parts of Central Luzon,” Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo told a news briefing.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of the storm was spotted some 440 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Basyang was expected to move west-northwest at 22 kph.

Nilo added that the intertropical convergence zone and not the storm will bring rains over Metro Manila.

Basyang is expected to be at 200 kms north of Virac this afternoon.

It is expected to make landfall over Isabela-northern Aurora area tonight then cross Sinait, Ilocos Sur tomorrow afternoon.

By Thursday afternoon, Basyang will be at 300 kms northwest of Laoag City.

Nilo warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under signal no. 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides. 

Last week, officials of Angat Dam warned that water level at the dam has reached critical level.

Meantime, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) banned vessels weighing 1,000 gross tons or less from sailing in Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora after receiving reports that Basyang is expected to move closer to these provinces.   – With Evelyn Macairan