Egay deviates from its course

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philipines- Tropical depression "Egay" will no longer make landfall over extreme Northern Luzon as it slightly changed course on Sunday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Sunday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz said although “Egay” remains to move northwestward, “a slight deviation in its course during the past days has significantly affected its present track.”

“Egay will only traverse the coastline of extreme Northern Luzon and will no longer gain strength,” Loiz added.

“Our forecast in the past days actually showed that Egay’s direction is generally northwestward but from time to time it has slight changes in its course affecting the present track of the cyclone,” Loiz explained.

A prevailing ridge of high pressure area (HPA) north of the country has affected the speed and direction of the tropical cyclone, he also noted.

However, Loiz warned that “Egay” may bring heavy rains and strong winds over areas that remain under public storm warning Signal No. 1 namely, Isabela, Cagayan Valley including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, PAGASA located the eye of the storm at 140 kilometers (km) east of Aparri, Cagayan.

PAGASA said "Egay" maintained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, but slightly gained speed from 17 kph to up to 19 kph on Sunday afternoon.

Loiz said the tropical cyclone is expected to move out of the country by Monday evening or Tuesday morning and will move towards Hong Kong.

PAGASA warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Meanwhile, the weather disturbance is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat and will bring rains over Metro Manila and western sections of Central and Southern Luzon, and Visayas.

Loiz said rains over Metro Manila may prevail in the next two days due to the enhancement of southwest monsoon.
source: mb.com.ph