Pagasa lifts storm warning signals, but issues gale warning

October 21, 2020

State weather forecasters lift storm warning signals as ''Pepito'', now a severe tropical storm, traversed the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday.

But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Adminstration (Pagasa) said a "gale warning is in effect due to rough to very rough seas over the entire seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, the seaboard of northern Quezon including Polillo Islands, and the western seaboards of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands), and Palawan (including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands)."

"Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacrafts. Moderate to rough seas will prevail over the eastern seaboards of southern Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region," Pagasa said.

"Those with small seacraft are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions," it added.

Pagasa said ''Pepito''  is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday morning or afternoon.

As of 4pm, ''Pepito'' was last spotted  at 295 km west of Dagupan City with sustained winds of 95kph and gustiness of up to 115kph while moving west ward at the speed of 15kph. Robina Asido/DMS