WEATHER BUREAU PAGASA on Sunday warned the public against social media posts indicating that the low pressure area (LPA) east of the Visayas is expected to develop into a super typhoon. “There is no truth to this. This is considered as fake news,” PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said during the 11 a.m. update for the current typhoon, Ramon (international name: Kalamaegi). A similar post circulated on social media days before Ramon, now categorized as a tropical cyclone from a tropical storm, entered the Philippine area. Mr. Estareja appealed against sharing and “liking” such posts, which he said do not come from the government weather agency. The LPA, located 2,420 kilometers (km) east of the central islands as of Sunday morning, is being monitored by PAGASA and it is likely to strengthen into another typhoon when it enters the Philippine area by Tuesday. Based on PAGASA’s typhoon name list for the year, it will be called Sarah.

LANDFALL
Meanwhile, tropical cyclone Ramon was almost stationary over the weekend and remained over sea. It is forecasted to make landfall by Tuesday in the northeastern part of Cagayan province. As of Sunday, typhoon wind signal #1 was up in Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and the northern portion of Aurora covering Dilasag, Casiguran, and Dinalungan. Mr. Estareja said the tropical cyclone is expected to be 250 km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan by Wednesday and out of the Philippine area by Thursday. On Monday, light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are expected over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga and Ilocos Norte. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains could be experienced over the Babuyan Islands, Abra, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Northern Aurora, and Quirino.

EVACUATION
As of noon Sunday, 98 people have moved to two evacuation centers in the Cagayan Valley Region, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Regional and city/municipal response teams remain on full alert for possible flooding and landslides. Sea travel, especially for small vessels, remains “risky” in the areas under wind signal #1 as well as the seaboards of northern Luzon, and eastern part of central and southern Luzon.

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