Zambales, Pampanga and Bataan on red alert as Maring maintains strength

September 12, 2017

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) put Zambales, Pampanga and Bataan provinces on red alert as tropical depression Maring  has crossed central Luzon.

Weather forecaster Loriedin Dela Cruz said in a televised press briefing Tuesday  Zambales, Pampanga and Bataan may experience heavy rainfall of about 30 millimeters an hour.

Maring has maintained maximum sustained winds of  60 kph and gusts up to 100 kph. The tropical depression was last spotted in Bacolor, Pampanga as of 4 pm. , Dela Cruz said.

Maring is moving west northwest at 15 kph. It is likely to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday evening, he said.

The state weather agency placed Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan under orange alert where they can experience 15 millimeters to 30 millimeters of rainfall an hour , Dela Cruz said.

The provinces of Batangas and Cavite are on yellow alert where they may experience 7.5 or 15 millimeters of rainfall an hour, he said.

Dela Cruz said Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas,Rizal, Northern Quezon including Polilo Island, Southern Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija , Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, and Pangasinan are under tropical cyclone warning signal number 1.

Typhoon Lannie, which is still inside the Philippine area of responsibility,  will not affect the country. The weather bulletin at 3 pm showed the typhoon is at 720 kilometers east-northeast of Basco, Batanes. Lannie, which has winds of 125 kph and gusts of up to 155 kph  is moving towards Taiwan, Dela Cruz said.  Alanna Ambi/DMS