Signal No. 2 up as Ramil intensifies into tropical storm

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PAGASA places Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, and the northern part of Camarines Sur under Signal No. 2 due to Tropical Storm Ramil (Fengshen) at 5 am on Saturday, October 18

MANILA, Philippines – Ramil intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm at 2 am on Saturday, October 18, and was given the international name Fengshen.

Fengshen, a name contributed by China, refers to the god of wind.

Based on the 5 am bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Ramil now has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour from the previous 55 km/h. Its gustiness is now up to 80 km/h from 70 km/h.

“Intensification into a severe tropical storm prior to landfall is not ruled out,” added PAGASA.

As of 4 am, Ramil was located 305 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, moving west at a slower 20 km/h from the previous 30 km/h.

The tropical storm is now expected to make landfall in Catanduanes, or possibly just pass close to the province, on Saturday afternoon or evening, then pass close to the municipality of Vinzons in Camarines Norte and Polillo Islands, part of Quezon, on Sunday morning, October 19.

By Sunday morning or afternoon, Ramil could make landfall again in Aurora or Isabela, then cross Northern Luzon and Central Luzon. Finally, it could emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Sunday afternoon or evening.

But PAGASA advised the public that Ramil’s track may either shift northward or southward within the cone of probability, in which case landfall sites would change.

Here are the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 5 am on Saturday:

Signal No. 2

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property

• Camarines Norte
• Catanduanes
• northern part of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion)

Signal No. 1

Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• eastern part of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat)
• eastern part of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, Tarlac City, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona)
• eastern part of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
• northern and eastern parts of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Polillo Islands
• rest of Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• Ticao Island
• Northern Samar
• northern part of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-avid)
• northern part of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)

If Ramil becomes a severe tropical storm, Signal No. 3 would be the worst-case scenario.

The trough and outer rainbands of the tropical storm, as well as the easterlies, are also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to areas not under a wind signal in these regions and provinces:

Saturday, October 18

• Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Masbate

Sunday, October 19

• Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Eastern Samar

PAGASA also updated its three-day rainfall outlook for Ramil at 5 am. Moderate to intense rain will hit mainly Bicol and Eastern Visayas as well as Quezon on Saturday, while considerably more areas will be affected on Sunday when the tropical storm crosses mainland Luzon. By Monday, October 20, rain will ease in most places.

Saturday, October 18

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate, Samar, Biliran

Sunday, October 19

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon

Monday, October 20

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Abra

Floods and landslides are likely.

In addition, there is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surges with peak heights of 1 to 2 meters in Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan within 48 hours. Check the specific cities and municipalities here.

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Sea conditions are worsening on Saturday, with certain seaboards unsafe for all vessels.

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte; eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Isabela; eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Northeastern seaboard of Aurora; eastern seaboard of Babuyan Islands – waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of Batanes and rest of Aurora; remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands and Polillo Islands; northern seaboard of Northern Samar – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar; remaining seaboards of Northern Samar – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboard of La Union; western seaboard of Pangasinan; eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Sur, and rest of mainland Quezon – waves up to 2 meters high

Ramil could exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning.

It is the country’s 18th tropical cyclone for 2025, and the third for October, after Typhoon Paolo (Matmo) and Tropical Storm Quedan (Nakri). PAGASA previously said there may be two to four tropical cyclones during the month.

The Philippines is transitioning to the northeast monsoon or amihan season after the recent termination of the southwest monsoon or habagat season.

La Niña is also underway in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which means the country may have above-normal rainfall in the coming months. – Rappler.com