Tropical Depression Pepito intensified into a Tropical Storm as it moves towards the Isabela-Aurora area, the Pagasa severe weather bulletin update said.
At 10:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm “PEPITO” was estimated based on all available data at 295 km East of Baler, Aurora (15.7 °N, 124.3 °E ).
It is moving Northwestward at 25 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
Pepito will move west-northwestward today and make landfall over the coast of Aurora-Isabela area between 7:00 and 11:00 PM. It will then cross the Luzon landmass, and emerge over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow morning. This tropical cyclone may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning.
Today, Tropical Storm Pepito will bring moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Quezon, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, mainland Cagayan, Pangasinan, and Benguet. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bangsamoro.
Flooding (including flashfloods) and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards. PAGASA Regional Services Divisions may issue local thunderstorm/rainfall advisories and heavy rainfall warnings as appropriate.
Tropical Storm Pepito Signal No. 2
- La Union,Ifugao,Benguet,Nueva Vizcaya,Quirino,Pangasinan,Nueva Ecija,Tarlac,Aurora, the southern portion of Isabela (Palanan,San Mariano,Benito Soliven,Naguilian,Gamu,Burgos,San Manuel,Aurora,Cabatuan,Luna,Reina Mercedes,Cauayan City,Dinapigue,San Guillermo,Angadanan,Alicia,San Mateo,Ramon,San Isidro,Echague,San Agustin,Jones,Santiago City,Cordon),the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon,Alilem,Tagudin),the northern portion of Zambales (Iba,Palauig,Masinloc,Candelaria,Santa Cruz,Botolan,Cabangan)
- and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar)
High to gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 and 2. High to gale-force winds with occasional gusts due to the northeasterly surface wind flow will be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and/or mountainous areas of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
Gale Warning is in effect over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte and due to rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 5.0 m). Moreover, the seaboards of areas under TCWS #1 and 2 will also experience rough to very rough seas (2.5 to 4.5 m). Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacrafts.