Manila: Tropical Storm Ramil (international name Fengshen) crossed Manila Bay late Sunday morning, battering large swathes of Luzon with gale-force winds and dangerous coastal conditions as it tracks northwest toward Zambales and Pangasinan. As of 10 a.m., the storm’s center was spotted over Manila Bay, packing sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 90 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
According to Philippines News Agency, the weather bureau reported that Ramil is moving west-northwest at 15 kph, dragging powerful winds outward up to 430 kph from its core. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is hoisted over Metro Manila (northern sector), Central Luzon, parts of Calabarzon, Benguet, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Rizal, Quezon including Polillo Islands, and several nearby provinces. These areas may experience gale-force winds of 62 to 88 kph within 24 hours, which can cause ‘minor to moderate threat to life and property.’
Signal No. 1, warning of strong winds within 36 hours, covers the rest of Metro Manila, Cagayan, Isabela, Bicol Region, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and much of Northern and Southern Luzon. PAGASA warned that even areas outside signal zones may be hit by strong to gale-force gusts from Ramil’s outer rainbands and the easterlies, particularly in coastal and upland areas.
A storm surge of one to two meters may inundate low-lying coastlines in Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Marinduque, and Occidental Mindoro within 24 hours. Sea travel is deemed dangerous across multiple Luzon seaboards as waves may reach up to 4.5 meters, particularly along Isabela, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Polillo Islands, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro.
Ramil is expected to cross Central Luzon on Sunday and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning. It may intensify again over the West Philippine Sea into a severe tropical storm. PAGASA cautioned that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still affect areas outside the forecast cone, urging communities in flood- and landslide-prone zones to heed evacuation orders.