MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Igme accelerated on Friday evening, September 20, moving northwest at 40 kilometers per hour from the previous 15 km/h.
As of 10 pm on Friday, Igme was located 500 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The tropical depression maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
With Igme moving away quickly, Signal No. 1 is no longer in effect for Batanes as of 11 pm. But the tropical depression is still causing rain in the province, and in Isabela as well as Cagayan.
Friday evening, September 20, to Saturday evening, September 21
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Batanes
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Isabela, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
Saturday evening, September 21, to Sunday evening, September 22
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batanes, Babuyan Islands
Igme, which did not make landfall in the country, could already leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning, September 21.
PAGASA added that Igme is likely to remain a tropical depression until Saturday, but the weather bureau is not ruling out the possibility that it might briefly become a tropical storm.
By Sunday, September 22, “a passing cold front over the East China Sea will weaken the tropical depression into a low pressure area,” added PAGASA.
Igme also continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, which is bringing more rain to parts of Luzon during the weekend.
Friday evening, September 20, to Saturday evening, September 21
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan
Saturday evening, September 21, to Sunday evening, September 22
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan
In other parts of Luzon and the Visayas, scattered rain and thunderstorms will persist, still due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.
The enhanced southwest monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas as well:
Saturday, September 21
- Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, extreme eastern part of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Zambales
Sunday, September 22
- Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Zambales
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For coastal waters, PAGASA issued a gale warning at 11 pm on Friday, covering the western seaboard of Northern Luzon (waves 2.8 to 4.5 meters high). Seas are rough to very rough in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and the western coast of Ilocos Norte, so travel is risky for small vessels.
Outside of the gale warning, up to rough seas are expected in the seaboards of Batanes and Zambales (waves 2.5 to 4 meters high), seaboards of Babuyan Islands (waves 1.5 to 3.5 meters high), and seaboards of Bataan, Kalayaan Islands, and mainland Cagayan (waves 1 to 3 meters high). Small vessels should not venture out to sea.
Up to moderate seas are seen in the seaboards of Isabela and Lubang Island (waves up to 2.5 meters high). The weather bureau advised small vessels to take precautionary measures or to avoid sailing, if possible.
Igme is the Philippines’ ninth tropical cyclone for 2024, and the fifth tropical cyclone for September alone. – Rappler.com