Cattle taken care of as livestock by residents are brought to higher ground for safety after the plains used for grazing in Bgy. Baculud, Ilagan, Isabela are inundated due to continuous rains brought by tropical storm Kristine on October 24, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- State weather bureau PAGASA cautioned the residents of Northern Luzon against heavy rains, strong winds, and storm surge that Tropical Storm Marce may bring.

"Siguro hindi lang 'yun ulan ang kailangan paghandaan kasi kung makikita natin sa forecast, magiging typhoon [ang bagyong Marce] bago mag-landfall so 'yung possible na storm surge dito sa may part ng Cagayan," Office of the Deputy Administrator for Operations and Services officer-in-charge (OIC) Juanito Galang said in a press conference Monday.

(We should prepare not only for the rains. As we can see from the forecast, Marce will intensify into a typhoon so before landfall, storm surge may be possible in Cagayan.)

At 10 a.m., Tropical Marce was located 775 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar. It packs winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 90 kph. The storm is moving west northwestward at 35 kph.

Marce, with international name Yinxing, is forecast to intensify continuously up to typhoon strength over the Philippine Sea.

PAGASA says wind signals may be raised over parts of Northern Luzon beginning Tuesday in anticipation of the storm's strong winds, with signal number 4 the highest possible wind warning to be hoisted.

READ: Marce may become a typhoon when it reaches northern Luzon

Once east of Northern Luzon, Marce will turn westward and may make landfall over Babuyan Islands on Friday. However, should the high pressure area steering and north of the storm intensify, landfall over Cagayan or Isabela may be more likely.

OUTSIDE THE STORM'S PATH

Galang appealed to the public to prepare ahead of the storm's landfall.

"Bago pa mag-landfall makakaranas na po tayo ng mga matitinding epekto ng bagyong Marce. So as early as Thursday pwede na tayo makaranas dyan hanggang sa makalampas sya sa Northern Luzon," he said.

(We will already feel the intense effects of Marce ahead of its landfall -- as early as Thursday until it crosses Northern Luzon.)

While Marce's windfield may be smaller compared to those of tropical cyclones Kristine and Leon, state forecasters still cautioned those living outside of the storm's path to expect gusty winds and light to moderate rains.

"Kailangan maging alerto rin 'yung mga kababayan natin sa mga lugar na although malayo sa bagyo pero binabanggit natin na posibleng makaranas ng mga pagbugso ng hangin... Nakikita natin light to moderate rains outside the periphery of Marce," Weather Division OIC Chris Perez said.

READ: Marcos says gov’t response to Kristine ‘never enough’, wishes ‘we could do more’

(Those living in areas far from the storm's immediate path should be on alert  as they can also experience gusty winds and light to moderate rains.)

Severe Tropical Storm Kristine brought torrential rains in Southern Luzon, outside of its immediate path in Northern Luzon, while Super Typhoon Leon's catastrophic winds wreaked havoc in Batanes.

MARCE MAY TRIGGER AMIHAN ONSET

The trough or extension of the potential typhoon is expected to start bringing rains over Extreme Northern Luzon and the eastern section of Luzon late Monday or Tuesday.

Perez, however, said it's still early to say how Marce's rainfall will compare to Kristine's and Leon's.

PAGASA is yet to declare the start of the northeast monsoon or Amihan season, but Marce is seen to enhance the surge of the northeasterly winds within the week.

"Possible na this week mag-release na tayo ng statement regarding the onset of the northeast monsoon in the country," Perez said.

(It is possible that PAGASA will announce the start of the northeast monsoon season in the country this week.)

The end of the southwest monsoon or Habagat season was announced on October 7.

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