13 areas warned as Tropical Storm Egay maintains strength

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The state weather bureau on Sunday evening, July 5, raised storm warning storm warning signals in 13 areas as Tropical Storm Egay (Linfa) continues to cross northern Luzon.

In its 11 pm bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed the following areas under Storm Warning Signal No. 2:

    •    Batanes
    •    Cagayan, including the Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands
    •    Apayao
    •    Kalinga
    •    Ilocos Norte
    •    Ilocos Sur
    •    Abra

PAGASA said areas under Signal No. 2 should expect winds of 61 to 120 km/h in the next 24 hours.

The state weather bureau also hoisted Signal No. 1 over the following areas:

    •    Pangasinan
    •    Isabela
    •    Benguet
    •    La Union
    •    Mountain Province
    •    Ifugao

PAGASA said areas under Signal No. 1 should expect winds of 30 to 60 km/h in the next 36 hours.

Egay packs maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 100 km/h. It is at 125 km southwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, as of 10 pm on Sunday.

It is forecast to move northwest at 9 km/h, and is seen to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by morning of Thursday, July 9.

PAGASA will release its next bulletin on Egay at 5am of Monday. – Rappler.com