Storm Signals Up as Maring Merges with Remnants of Nando

(UPDATE) Storm signals are up over areas in eastern and northern Philippines as Tropical Storm Maring assimilated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Nando, which has weakened into a low pressure area, PAGASA said on Sunday.

Maring, the 13th storm of the year, was spotted 645 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City at 4 p.m. and packs maximum sustained winds of 85 kph with gusts of up to 105 kph moving in a west northwestward direction at 20 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is raised over the following areas, which could experience damaging gale-force to storm-force winds:

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Northern portion of Isabela (Santa Maria, Quezon, Cabagan, Delfin Albano, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, Maconacon, San Pablo, Divilacan, Palanan, Ilagan City)
• Apayao
• Northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk)
• Northeastern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg, Bangui, Vintar, Carasi)

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas, which may experience strong winds that could cause very light damage to structures and vegetation:

• The rest of Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Abra
• Rest of Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Northern and central portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
• Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Pantabangan, San Jose City)
• Catanduanes
• Eastern Samar
• Eastern portion of Northern Samar (San Roque, Pambujan, Las Navas, Catubig, Laoang, Mapanas, Lapinig, Gamay, Palapag, Mondragon, Silvino Lobos)
• Eastern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Hinabangan, Paranas)

Maring is expected to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region

Light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains may also prevail over Central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley.

Due to the enhancement of the southerlies, rains may also occur in Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro.

Maring is forecast to gradually intensify and may be upgraded to severe tropical storm within the next 12 hours.