MANILA, Philippines — A gale warning has been raised in the seaboards of extreme north Luzon as well as in the northern and western seaboards of north Luzon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in the warning issued at 5 p.m. on Thursday that strong to gale-force winds "are prevailing or expected to affect" the seaboards of extreme north Luzon (Batanes and Babuyan Islands {Babuyan Island, Dalupiri Island, and Fuga Island}).
The indicated conditions for these areas were cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms, wind force of 45 to 68 kilometers per hour (km/h) or 24 to 36 knots, rough to very rough seas, and 2.8 to 5 meters (m) in wave heights.
In the same gale warning, it said that strong to gale-force winds "are prevailing or expected to affect" the northern and western seaboards of north Luzon (Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur {Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, City of Vigan, and Caoayan}).
The indicated conditions for these areas were occasional rains, wind force of 45 to 63 km/h or 24 to 34 knots, rough to very rough seas, and 2.8 to 4.5 m in wave heights.
"Warnings are for sea areas within 30 nautical miles from the coast," Pagasa said.
Sea travel "is risky for small seacrafts (including all motor bancas of any type or tonnage)," it said, advising mariners of these vessels to "remain in port or seek safe harbor."
Pagasa said operating larger vessels in these conditions require experience "and properly equipped vessels."
It advised vessel masters, boat captains, ship owners or operators, and coast guard units to "take appropriate measures to ensure safety of life at sea."
In the 24-Hour Sea Condition Outlook included in the tropical cyclone bulletin it issued at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Pagasa forecasted up to very rough seas over these coastal waters:
- Up to 5 m: Batanes' seaboard and Babuyan Islands' northern and western seaboards
- Up to 4.5 m: The seaboards of Ilocos Norte's and north Ilocos Sur
"Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside," Pagasa said.
Meanwhile, it forecasted up to rough seas over these coastal waters:
- Up to 4 m: North La Union's seaboard and Pangasinan's western seaboard
- Up to 3.5 m: Zambales' seaboard and Bataan's western seaboard
- Up to 3 m: Lubang Islands' seaboard; 'the northern and western seaboards of Calamian Islands and Kalayaan Islands;" Bataan's southern seaboard; the western seaboards of Cavite, Batangas, and north Occidental Mindoro; and the Babuyan Islands' remaining seaboard.
"Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels," Pagasa said.
It forecasted up to moderate seas over these coastal waters:
- Up to 2.5 m: The seaboards of Isabela and south Surigao del Sur; the remaining western seaboard of Palawan; Davao Oriental's eastern seaboard; "the remaining seaboards of La Union, Pangasinan, and Kalayaan Islands;" mainland Cagayan's northern seaboard; and the remaining western seaboard of Occidental Mindoro.
- Up to 2 m: The seaboards of north Aurora, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Antique, and Davao Occidental; "the southern seaboards of Quezon, Marinduque, Iloilo, and Guimaras;" Oriental Mindoro's eastern and southern seaboards; the western seaboard of south Negros Occidental; and the remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan, north Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
"Mariners of motorbancas and similarly sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions," Pagasa said.
It forecasted below 2 m. in wave heights for other coastal waters.
