Update: Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 2 is raised over Batanes and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands as Tropical Storm Siony moves west-southwestward towards Luzon Strait.
At 4:00 AM today, the center of Severe Tropical Storm Siony was estimated based on all available data at 595 km East of Basco, Batanes.
It moves West Southwestward at 10 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.
Siony will accelerate towards the west or west-northwest in the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the center of “SIONY” will likely pass over (landfall) or near (close approach) the vicinity of Batanes or Babuyan Islands tomorrow morning or noon.
After leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon or evening, this tropical cyclone is forecast to turn towards the southwest on Saturday morning and accelerate over the West Philippine Sea towards the general direction of central or southern Vietnam.
Siony is forecast to reach typhoon category with a peak intensity of 120 km/h by tomorrow morning as it passes near or over the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area. After exiting the PAR, “SIONY” will gradually weaken due to increasingly unfavorable conditions over the West Philippine Sea associated with a northeasterly surge.
Strong breeze to near gale conditions due to the prevailing northeasterlies will continue over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, and the northern and eastern coastal areas of mainland Cagayan until the arrival of tropical cyclone winds.
Signal no. 2 raised over Batanes, Babuyan Islands
Based on all available meteorological data, the earliest onset of strong breeze to near gale conditions associated with Siony over the areas currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #2 #1 will be between tonight and tomorrow early morning. Damaging gale- to storm-force winds will begin to affect areas under TCWS #2 tomorrow morning. Based on the intensity outlook for Siony, TCWS #3 remains to be the highest wind signal to be hoisted during the passage.
In the next 24 hours, the troughs of both “GONI” and “SIONY” will bring scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rain showers over Pangasinan and most parts of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, and Mindanao. Moderate to heavy rains due to “SIONY” will begin affecting Batanes and the Babuyan Islands tomorrow early morning.
Siony Signal No. 2
Batanes and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Balintang Isl., Babuyan Isl., Didicas Isl., and Camiguin Isl. including their adjoining islets)
Siony signal No. 1
The rest of Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes), the northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg, Burgos, Vintar, Pasuquin, Bacarra)