'Santi' now a storm; Signal No. 1 up in 6 provinces

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - Tropical depression Santi heightened into a tropical storm overnight as it approached Luzon faster, with six provinces placed under public storm warning signal no. 1, the weather bureau said Thursday.

PAGASA placed Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon and Camarines Norte under the storm signal.

Santi, a moderate storm, is moving at a maximum wind speed of 64 to 118 kph (25 to 75 mph).

The areas is expected to experience 30-60 kph winds in at least 36 hours and must be alerted against flash floods and landslides.

Weather Forecaster Alvin Pura said in a state news agency report that Santi's center is located at 400 km east of Virac, Catanduanes (14.8°N, 128.2°E) packed with maximum winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph as of 4 a.m.

The tropical storm is forecasted to move west-northwest at a speed of 11 kph, he said.

Pura added that if Santi maintains its present direction and speed, it is expected to make landfall in Central and Northern Luzon on Saturday.

He said they also expect Santi to further intensify especially in the next 12 to 24 hours as it enters Luzon. Areas within its 300-km diameter of tropical storm will experience moderate to heavy rains, the forecaster said.

Santi will likely exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Monday or Tuesday headed towards Vietnam.

Pura said parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, are already expected to have passing light to moderate rains Thursday because of the outer cloud bands of the tropical cyclone.

It is expected to be at 140 km east of Baler, Aurora by Saturday morning and in the vicinity of Pangasinan by Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, most areas in Visayas and Mindanao are spared of the tropical storm, but may also experience light to moderate rains due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone.