‘Marce’ strengthens into a severe tropical storm

 Himawari-9/RAMMB satellite imagery 

MANILA — Tropical Cyclone Marce (international name: Yinxing) intensified further while at sea and is now a severe tropical storm, the state weather bureau said late Monday.

In its 11 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Marce undergone rapid intensification and is now packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 125 kph.

It was last located 590 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, or 715 km east of Daet, Camarines Norte, and is moving northwestward at 35 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the following areas, which may experience strong winds within the next 36 hours:

• •Batanes
• •Northern and eastern portions of Cagayan (Camalaniugan, Lal-Lo, Pamplona, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Santa Ana, Claveria, Gattaran, Peñablanca, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Alcala, Amulung, Iguig) including Babuyan Islands
• •Eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue)
• •Northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan, Flora, Pudtol)
• •Northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue)
• •Marce is expected to start bringing heavy rains to extreme northern Luzon Tuesday night.
• •The tropical cyclone could also spawn rough seas and strong to gale-force gusts over northern Luzon's coastal waters, the state forecaster warned.

Forecast track of Severe Tropical Storm Marce. PAGASA

Based on PAGASA’s forecast track, Marce will move generally west northwestward until Tuesday, before turning westward at a slower pace over the Philippine Sea.

It may make landfall near the Babuyan Islands or mainland northern Cagayan on Thursday evening or early Friday.

However, due to uncertainty in the strength of the high-pressure area north of Marce, PAGASA said the forecast track could still change and bring the landfall point to the mainland Cagayan-Isabela area.

PAGASA also said Marce is expected to continue to “rapidly intensify’ and may reach typhoon category Tuesday morning.

Severe Tropical Storm Marce is the Philippines' 13th tropical cyclone this year, entering the Philippine area of responsibility early Monday after back-to-back storms recently hit the nation.

It is threatening almost the same area where Leon left damage and forced thousands to flee their houses. Leon arrived soon after Severe Tropical Storm Kristine struck Luzon and Visayas provinces last month.

Philippines marks Day of National Mourning for Kristine victims