Northern samar: Tropical Storm Ramil (international name Fengshen) has slightly weakened over the coastal waters of Northern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Saturday. As of 1 p.m., Ramil’s center was located over the coastal waters of Laoang, Northern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, moving westward at 25 kph.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over the northern portion of Aurora, Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, the northern portion of Camarines Sur, the extreme eastern portion of Albay, the northeastern portion of Sorsogon, and the northeastern portion of Northern Samar. Signal No. 1 is hoisted over numerous areas including Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, and several others.

PAGASA noted that Ramil is starting to remain almost stationary off the coast of Northern Samar and will likely continue to do so in the next several hours. It is forecast to move generally west-northwestward or northwestward, with a potential landfall over Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon or evening, and over Camarines Sur in the evening or early morning on Sunday.

A slightly southward shift in the forecast track could result in a landfall over Albay or Sorsogon Saturday afternoon or evening. On the forecast track, Ramil will continue moving west-northwestward over the landmass or coastal waters of the Bicol Region between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Afterwards, Ramil is expected to pass close or over the Polillo Islands on Sunday morning, then make a final landfall in the vicinity of Aurora on Sunday morning or afternoon. The forecast confidence cone indicates a possibility of landfall over northern Quezon or southern Isabela instead of Aurora.

Post-landfall, Ramil will traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and is anticipated to emerge over the coastal waters of Pangasinan or La Union by Sunday evening. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning, as per PAGASA.