Manila: Tropical Storm Uwan has re-entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as it heads for southern Taiwan, the weather bureau said Wednesday. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the center of Uwan was situated 210 km northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, carrying maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. The storm is moving east-northeast at 10 kph.
According to Philippines News Agency, strong to gale-force winds extend outward up to 300 km from the center of the storm. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains in effect over Batanes, where strong winds with minimal to minor impacts on life and property are anticipated within the next 36 hours. PAGASA has cautioned that local winds may be stronger in coastal and upland areas exposed to the prevailing direction. Areas outside wind signals might also experience occasionally gusty conditions, particularly in Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte on Wednesday, and in Batanes and the Babuyan Islands on Thursday.
A gale warning has been issued for the seaboard of Extreme Northern Luzon, with sea conditions reaching very rough levels. Seas may rise up to 4.5 meters along the western seaboard of Batanes, making sea travel risky for all vessels. Rough seas, with waves reaching up to 4 meters, are expected along the northern seaboard of the Babuyan Islands and the remaining seaboard of Batanes, while waves of up to 3.5 meters may occur along the coasts of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Moderate to rough sea conditions are also predicted over the seaboards of northern Luzon and parts of Palawan and Mindoro.
Uwan is expected to continue its northeast trajectory, making landfall over southern Taiwan Wednesday evening before moving over the eastern coastal waters of Taiwan and heading toward the Ryukyu Islands by Thursday. It is projected to gradually weaken due to unfavorable conditions and land interaction, eventually dissipating into a remnant low, PAGASA stated.
