(Image grabbed from PAGASA's Facebook page)
MANILA – Tropical Depression Ulysses has now intensified into a tropical storm as it approaches the country's landmass, the weather bureau said Monday afternoon.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Ulysses" was last tracked 575 kilometers (km) east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, moving northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).
It is now packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
The trough of "Ulysses" will cause light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, and the province of Quezon, it added.
The tail-end of a cold front, on the other hand, will cause moderate to heavy rains over Cagayan Valley, including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
Flooding, rain-induced landslides, and sediment-laden streamflows may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards or those that received significant rainfall from tropical cyclones.
In a thunderstorm advisory issued at 4:08 p.m., PAGASA said moderate to heavy rain showers, lightning, and strong winds are likely over Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Batangas within the next two hours.
Meanwhile, no Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) has been raised yet on any part of the country, but PAGASA said TCWS No. 1 may be hoisted over some localities in Bicol Region or Eastern Visayas either Monday night or early Tuesday.
PAGASA also forecasts "Ulysses" to reach typhoon category on Wednesday, before barreling towards the Bicol Region-Quezon area on Thursday.
Rough to very rough seas will prevail over the entire seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, and the eastern and western seaboards of Southern Luzon. Sea travel is risky over these waters.
Moderate to rough seas may prevail over the remaining seaboards of Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft to take precautionary measures when venturing to the sea. (PNA)
