MANILA, Philippines – Enteng (Yagi) strengthened from a tropical storm into a severe tropical storm on Tuesday afternoon, September 3, while moving away from Luzon.
Enteng’s maximum sustained winds increased from 85 kilometers per hour to 95 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 5 pm bulletin on Tuesday.
The severe tropical storm’s gustiness is now up to 115 km/h from the previous 105 km/h.
It was already 165 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, as of 4 pm on Tuesday.
Enteng slowed down, moving west northwest at only 10 km/h from 25 km/h. But it is still expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday morning, September 4.
In the next 24 hours, the Ilocos Region and Abra may still have moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters) from the severe tropical storm.
But since Enteng is moving away from land, Signal No. 2 — pertaining to winds — has already been lifted as of 5 pm on Tuesday.
Signal No. 1 remains in effect for these areas that are still experiencing strong winds:
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- northern part of La Union (Luna, Santol, San Juan, Bagulin, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Balaoan, San Fernando City)
- Abra
Enteng made landfall as a tropical storm in Casiguran, Aurora, on Monday, September 2. It then crossed Quirino, Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea early Tuesday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 10 people have been reported dead due to Enteng.
While Enteng is moving away, it is still enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat. In a separate advisory issued at 11 am on Tuesday, PAGASA warned that moderate to intense rain will continue in the follwoing areas due to the enhanced southwest monsoon:
Tuesday, September 3
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): northern part of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo islands, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija
Wednesday, September 4
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): northern part of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo islands, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Benguet
Thursday, September 5
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): northern part of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo islands, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan
The enhanced southwest monsoon is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:
Tuesday, September 3
- Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Northern Samar
Wednesday, September 4
- Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Northern Samar
Thursday, September 5
- Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Northern Samar
Enteng and the enhanced southwest monsoon continue to affect coastal waters as well.
PAGASA issued another gale warning at 5 pm on Tuesday, covering the western seaboard of Northern Luzon (waves 3.7 to 5 meters high) and the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon (waves 3.7 to 4.5 meters high). Seas are rough to very rough, so travel is risky for small vessels.
Moderate to rough seas are seen in the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon outside gale warning areas (waves 1.5 to 3.5 meters high) and in the western seaboard of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon (waves 1.5 to 4 meters high). The weather bureau advised small vessels not to venture out to sea.
PAGASA added that up to moderate seas are expected in the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon as well as the southern seaboard of Southern Luzon (waves 1 to 2.5 meters high), plus the western and eastern seaboards of the Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao (waves 1 to 2 meters high). Small vessels must take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
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After leaving PAR on Wednesday, Enteng will head for China, where it could make landfall during the weekend.
Enteng may also intensify into a typhoon on Thursday, September 5, outside PAR. It could reach its peak intensity late Friday, September 6, or early Saturday, September 7, before hitting China.
Enteng is the country’s fifth tropical cyclone for 2024 and the first for September. PAGASA previously estimated there may be two or three tropical cyclones during the month.
There is also a 66% chance of La Niña forming in the September-November period. – Rappler.com