Signal #3 in Cagayan, Apayao as stronger 'Vinta' moves closer to Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Severe tropical storm "Vinta" continues to intensify as it moves closer to Cagayan province and threatens northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) last observed Vinta at 390 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City bearing maximum winds of 105 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 135 kilometers per hour.

Several areas in Luzon have been placed under public storm warning signals:

Signal no. 3
Cagayan
Apayao

Signal no. 2
Calayan Group of Islands
Babuyan Group of Islands
Isabela
Kalinga
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Abra
Mt. Province

Signal no. 1
La Union
Pangasinan
Benguet
Ifugao
Nueva
Vizcaya
Nueva Ecija
Quirino
Aurora
Batanes Group of Islands

PAGASA warned these areas against possible flashfloods and landslides. "Moreover, coastal areas under Public Storm Warning Signal#3 and #2 are alerted against possible storm surges," it said.

The agency said Cagayan Valley, Ilocos provinces, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra and Mt. province will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas. The rest of Ilocos region and Cordillera, the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija will have rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within the 500-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.

Sea travel remains risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Vinta is projected to move west at 26 kilometers per hour and to be at 100 kilometers west of Laoag City on Friday morning. It is expected to be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday afternoon.