TYPHOON “Marce” slightly intensified over the Philippine Sea, and its eye was estimated at 480 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela.
It was moving northwestward 25 km/h packing maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 160 km/h.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was raised over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod), Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora).
According to PAGASA, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected from today until tomorrow afternoon in Batanes, Cagayan, and Apayao.
From Thursday to Friday, Cagayan is forecast to experience intense to torrential rainfall while Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Batanes will have heavy to intense rainfall. Moderate to intense rainfall will affect Isabela, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, PAGASA said.
“Marce” is forecast to move generally west northwestward until today before decelerating and turning westward over the Philippine Sea east of extreme Northern Luzon.
Based on the forecast track, “Marce” will make landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan on Thursday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said.
It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon or evening.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said it plans to decommission the name “Kristine” from the list of the country’s tropical cyclones after it caused 97 fatalities and P4.34 billion in damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
Senior weather specialist Robb Gil said the weather bureau will formalize the delisting of ‘Kristine’ once the final and official report is submitted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“The initial tally from the NDRRMC indicates that Kristine will likely be decommissioned,’’ Gile said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Signal No. 1 raised over 14 areas as ‘Marce’ slightly intensifies.”
