“Pepito” now over W. PHL Sea; La Union, parts of Zambales and Pangasinan under Signal No. 2

(Eagle News)–Tropical Storm “Pepito” is now over the West Philippine Sea.

In its 8 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said La Union, the northern portion of Zambales (Iba, Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz), and the western portion of Pangasinan (Bani, Anda, Bolinao, Agno, Dasol, Burgos, Alaminos City, Mabini, Sual, Infanta, Bugallon, Labrador, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Basista, Malasiqui, San Fabian, Pozzorubio, Sison, Laoac, Urdaneta City, Manaoag, San Jacinto, Dagupan City, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, San Carlos City, Calasiao, Binmaley, Lingayen) are under Signal No. 2 with “Pepito” estimated based  115 kilometers northwest of Dagupan City, Pangasinan or 120 km west northwest of Baguio City.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Signal No. 1, on the other hand, is hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the rest of Pangasinan, Abra, the western portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pasil, Lubuagan, Tinglayan), the western portion of Mountain Province (Barlig, Sadanga, Bontoc, Sagada, Sabangan, Bauko, Tadian, Besao), the western portion of Ifugao (Banaue, Hingyon, Kiangan, Tinoc, Hungduan, Asipulo), Benguet, the western portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Ambaguio, Kayapa, Aritao, Santa Fe), the western portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Muñoz City, Santo Domingo, Zaragoza, Aliaga, Licab, Guimba, Talugtug, Quezon, Nampicuan, Cuyapo), Tarlac, and the rest of Zambales.

“Pepito” is forecast to move generally west at 30 kph over the West Philippine Sea today, before slowing down and turning northwestward tomorrow.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow morning or afternoon.

“Pepito” is expected to accelerate and turn west beginning Friday towards the central portion of Vietnam, and to gradually intensify over the West Philippine Sea.

It may reach severe tropical storm category by tomorrow afternoon or evening.

Today, “Pepito” will bring moderate to heavy rains over Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, La Union, Apayao, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

“Flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards,” PAGASA said.

Gale-force winds and high (strong to near gale) winds will be experienced in areas under signal number 2 and 1, respectively, while high to gale-force winds due to the northeasterly surface wind flow will  be experienced over the rest of northern Luzon, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

Rough to very rough seas  will be experienced over the areas where the signal number and gale warning are in effect, particularly  over the entire seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, the seaboard of northern Quezon including Pollilo Islands, and the western seaboards of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands), and Palawan (including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands),

Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacraft.

Moderate to rough seas, on the other hand, will prevail over the eastern seaboards of southern Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region.

Those with small seacraft have been advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.

PAGASA is also monitoring a tropical depression outside PAR estimated  1,900 km east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon.