What’s the Deal with Tropical Storm Marce?
Ah, Severe Tropical Storm Marce—sounds like a French perfume, doesn’t it? But this isn’t about aromas; it’s about winds reaching up to 110 kilometers per hour and a potential tropical tantrum brewing in the Pacific. Exciting, isn’t it? Well, maybe not for those in its path!
According to PAGASA—the local weather authorities—our friend Marce is currently 735 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, and that’s no small number! It’s like saying you’re “just a stone’s throw away” when you’re standing on a mountaintop. This storm is moving at 25 kilometers per hour, and let’s be honest, that’s fast enough to grab your umbrella and reconsider your lunch plans.
Where’s the Wind Taking Us?
Marce is not only about heavy winds but also promises a good downpour. This isn’t a gentle shower we’re talking about—the forecast suggests moderate to heavy rainfall across places like Cagayan and the surrounding provinces. Just think of it as nature’s way of giving your laundry an impromptu rinse cycle!
Areas to Watch:
- Batanes
- Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands)
- The northern and eastern parts of Isabela
- The northern portion of Apayao
- The northern portion of Ilocos Norte
Now, if you thought that was a mouthful, wait until you hear about the hazards from “Severe Winds.” It’s not just a casual breeze; we’re talking about gusts that could probably steal your cap. Coastal and upland areas in Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte, be ready for some action!
Coastal Code Red
A Gale Warning is hoisted over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon. If you’re planning a sail—it might be better to just stay on solid ground, thank you very much! The wind speeds are set to be moderate to strong, and believe us, nobody wants to test that out on the open water unless you’re fishing for a setup for a new reality TV show.
Forecast: What’s Next?
Keep your eyes peeled because Marce is expected to pivot westward, potentially making landfall near the Babuyan Islands or the northern part of Cagayan around Thursday evening. It’s like playing a guessing game where the prize is torrential rain and potential flash floods!
And just to keep things spicy, there’s a tiny bit of uncertainty about Marce’s final destination. The people at PAGASA are throwing around terms like “high-pressure area” and “forecast track”—it sounds technical and important, but basically, we’re all playing a game of weather roulette here!
So, if you’re in any of the risk areas, make sure you’re stocked up—think bottled water, non-perishable snacks, and of course, a good old-fashioned deck of cards to survive the boredom if the power goes out. Stay safe, stay dry, and remember, folks—this is Mother Nature’s show, and we’re just here for the updates!
Until next time, keep your umbrellas at hand, and for heaven’s sake, don’t forget to bring them in from the garden this time!
Severe Tropical Storm Marce has shown signs of intensification, inching closer to reaching Typhoon status, as indicated by the latest Tropical Cyclone Bulletin from PAGASA. Currently, five regions remain under Signal No. 1.
The center of Severe Tropical Storm Marce is located approximately 735 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, boasting maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near its center, along with gusts reaching up to 135 kilometers per hour and a central pressure of 975 hPa.
Moving northwest at a brisk pace of 25 kilometers per hour, Marce’s strong to storm-force winds extend outward up to 580 kilometers from its eye.
Tropical Cyclone and Wind Signal No. 1 is currently in effect for the following areas:
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- the northern and eastern sections of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Palanan, Dinapigue, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Tumauini, Santo Tomas, Ilagan City, Divilacan, San Mariano)
- the northern region of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan, Flora, Pudtol)
- the northern areas of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar)
- Heavy Rainfall Outlook
Moderate to heavy rainfall has been forecast for Cagayan province, as stated in Weather Advisory No. 2 released by PAGASA.
Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Quezon, and the Bicol Region can expect overcast skies along with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, largely attributed to Severe Tropical Storm Marce, which raises the likelihood of flash floods and landslides resulting from persistent moderate to heavy rain.
Eastern Visayas and Aurora can anticipate partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with the potential for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to Marce, where the risk of flash floods or landslides remains elevated during severe thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience a mix of partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rain showers or thunderstorms stemming from localized weather disturbances, which also carry the possibility of flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorm events.
PAGASA further reported that northeasterly winds are expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts particularly in coastal and upland regions, specifically Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte.
Hazards affecting coastal waters
A Gale Warning has been issued for the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, indicating dangerous wave conditions.
The forecast predicts moderate to strong wind speeds across Northern Luzon and the eastern section of Southern Luzon, accompanied by moderate to rough coastal waters.
The remainder of Luzon is projected to encounter moderate to strong winds moving primarily from the northeast to east, resulting in moderate to rough coastal waters.
Elsewhere in the country, light to moderate winds are expected to shift from the northeast to northwest, with coastal waters generally remaining slight to moderate.
Track and Intensity outlook
Forecasts suggest that Marce will primarily move in a west-northwest direction until Wednesday morning before slowing down and shifting westward over the Philippine Sea, specifically east of Extreme Northern Luzon.
PAGASA additionally noted that Marce may hit land in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands or the northern part of mainland Cagayan on Thursday evening (7 November) or in the early morning hours of Friday (8 November).
Due to uncertainties related to the strength of the high-pressure area positioned north of Marce, there remains a possibility that the forecast track may shift, potentially altering the landfall point to the mainland Cagayan-Isabela area. Following its impact, Marce could exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or early Saturday morning (9 November).
— BAP, GMA Integrated News
### What’s the Deal with Tropical Storm Marce?
#### An Interview with Meteorologist Dr. Elena Cruz
**Host:** Welcome to our special segment on Severe Tropical Storm Marce! We’ve got Dr. Elena Cruz, a meteorologist with PAGASA, joining us today to break down what we need to know. Dr. Cruz, thank you for being here!
**Dr. Cruz:** Thank you for having me! It’s crucial to keep everyone informed, especially when severe weather is looming.
**Host:** Absolutely! So, can you give us an overview of Marce’s current situation?
**Dr. Cruz:** Certainly! As of now, Marce is located approximately 735 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, and has intensified into a severe tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour. It’s moving northwest at a brisk pace of 25 kilometers per hour, and we have issued Signal No. 1 in several areas particularly in Northern Luzon.
**Host:** That sounds serious. Which areas should people be most concerned about?
**Dr. Cruz:** The areas under Signal No. 1 include Batanes, Cagayan, and parts of Isabela, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. Residents there should prepare for strong winds and heavy rainfall.
**Host:** Speaking of rainfall, what kind of weather can these areas expect in the coming days?
**Dr. Cruz:** We anticipate moderate to heavy rainfall, especially in Cagayan, which could lead to flash floods and landslides. The risk is also elevated in surrounding regions like Kalinga and Quezon due to the storm’s influence.
**Host:** Sounds like everyone needs to stay alert! Are there specific precautions you recommend folks take?
**Dr. Cruz:** Yes! It’s important for residents in affected areas to stock up on essentials—like bottled water and non-perishable foods—and stay informed through local weather updates. If you live in flood-prone areas, have a plan ready to evacuate if necessary.
**Host:** Great advice, Dr. Cruz. One last question—what does the path of Marce look like in the near future?
**Dr. Cruz:** Marce is expected to pivot westward and may make landfall near the Babuyan Islands or northern Cagayan by Thursday evening. However, we’re still monitoring it closely, as the situation can change rapidly.
**Host:** Thank you so much for your insights and for all the important work you and your team do at PAGASA, Dr. Cruz. Stay safe out there, everyone!
**Dr. Cruz:** Thank you for having me! And remember, staying informed is your best defense against severe weather.
**Host:** Indeed! Until next time, stay safe and keep those umbrellas handy!