MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Marce (international name: Yinxing) slightly gained strength on Tuesday morning, bringing it closer to becoming a typhoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
“Marce may further strengthen today and reach the typhoon category until it exits our Philippine area of responsibility (PAR),” Pagasa weather specialist Rhea Torres said during a press briefing, mixing Filipino and English.
In a 5 a.m. bulletin, the state weather agency reported that Marce was last located 735 kilometers (km) east of Baler, Aurora. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center, with gusts reaching up to 135 kph.
Marce was moving northwestward at a speed of 25 kph, the agency added.
According to the weather bureau’s forecast track, Marce is expected to continue moving generally northwestward until Wednesday morning (November 6) before slowing down and shifting westward over the Philippine Sea, east of extreme northern Luzon.
“Marce may make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands or over the northern portion of mainland Cagayan on Thursday evening or Friday early morning,” Pagasa stated.
Torres noted that Marce has a wide radius that will affect parts of northern Luzon. She also indicated that the storm is gradually moving closer to the Philippine landmass.
In light of these weather conditions, Pagasa has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in the following areas:
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Palanan, Dinapigue, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Tumauini, Santo Tomas, Ilagan City, Divilacan, San Mariano)
- Northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan, Flora, Pudtol)
- Northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar)