by Charie Mae F. Abarca
Tropical depression Neneng, the country’s 14th tropical cyclone in 2022, is expected to further intensify while moving over the Philippine sea, the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), on Friday, Oct. 14, said Neneng is forecast to move west southwestwards in the next 24 hours before turning westward on Saturday, Oct. 15.
PAGASA’s latest forecast track showed that the weather disturbance will likely make landfall or pass “very closely” in Babuyan Islands or Batanes.
Last spotted 1,015 kilometers (km) east of extreme northern Luzon, Neneng was packing maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kilometers per hour (kph). It is moving west northwestward at 10 kph.
Raising of wind signals
With Neneng’s expected close approach to the Philippine landmass, the state weather bureau warned of heavy rains that may begin to drench northern Luzon beginning Saturday, Oct. 15.
“Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 may be hoisted [on Friday morning or afternoon, Oct. 14] over the eastern portion of northern Luzon in the anticipation of winds associated with the approaching tropical cyclone,” said PAGASA.
“Per latest intensity forecast, the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is wind Signal no. 2,” it added.
The weather disturbance, according to the state weather bureau, may further intensify while traversing the Philippine sea, adding that it may reach tropical storm category by Saturday. Further intensification prior to its expected “close approach” to extreme northern Luzon is not ruled out.
