MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Enteng (Yagi) maintained its strength over the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday evening, September 3, while still enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat.
In a briefing past 11 pm on Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Enteng was last spotted 210 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
The severe tropical storm continues to move west northwest at only 10 kilometers per hour (km/h).
It still has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.
Enteng’s exit from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is expected to happen early Wednesday morning, September 4.
While the severe tropical storm is on its way out of PAR, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur are still seeing moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters).
Strong winds from Enteng also continue to be felt in these areas remaining under Signal No. 1 as of 11 pm on Tuesday:
The highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised due to Enteng was Signal No. 2.
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.
Meanwhile, moderate to intense rain from the enhanced southwest monsoon will persist in parts of Luzon. PAGASA released a separate advisory at 11 pm on Tuesday, warning of rain in the following areas:
Wednesday, September 4
Thursday, September 5
Friday, September 6
The enhanced southwest monsoon is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:
Wednesday, September 4
Thursday, September 5
Enteng and the enhanced southwest monsoon continue to affect coastal waters as well.
The gale warning released at 5 pm on Tuesday remains in effect for 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 and the western seaboard of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon (waves 1.5 to 4 meters high). PAGASA advised small vessels not to venture out to sea.
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.
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 by Friday, September 6.
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
