NOAA/Himawari-9 satellite imagery 

MANILA — Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing) intensifies further as it moved west northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

In its 11 p.m. Monday weather bulletin, PAGASA said Marce was last located 415 kilometers east northeast of Echague, Isabela, or 395 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. It is not packing maximum sustained winds of up to 140 kph near the center, with gusts of up to 170 kph.

It is moving west northwestward at 15 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is now up in northeastern mainland Cagayan, where gale-force winds may be experienced within 24 hours. 

Signal no. 1 remains in effect in the following areas:

• • Batanes
• • Rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• • Ilocos Norte
• • Ilocos Sur
• • Apayao
• • Abra
• • Kalinga
• • Mountain Province
• • Ifugao
• • Northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod)
• • Isabela
• • Nueva Vizcaya
• • Quirino
• • Northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora)

Forecast track of Typhoon Marce. PAGASA Handout 

The typhoon may continue intensifying and reach its peak before making landfall over or pass very close to Babuyan Islands or northern mainland Cagayan on Thursday.

It may exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday.

Moderate to torrential rains will batter many parts of Northern Luzon, especially Cagayan, Ilocos provinces, Apayao, Abra, and Batanes Wednesday evening through Friday evening.

There is serious threat of flooding and landslides in these areas.

Apart from devastation along the typhoon's immediate path, the destructive winds may also generate two to three-meter storm surge over the coastlines of Cagayan Valley while up to two meter storm surge is expected in Ilocos Norte.

Very rough to high seas over the coastal waters of Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Region will not be safe for all types of sea vessels.