Strong Winds, Heavy Rainfall in Mindoro as Typhoon Ramil barrels toward central Luzon

Typhoon Ramil may affect the provinces of Mindoro with strong winds and heavy rainfall Saturday as the storm decelerated while churning west northwestward toward central Luzon, weather authorities said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that Mindoro provinces face gale-force gusts throughout the day, despite not being under direct tropical cyclone wind signals.

Ramil was located 260 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon at 7:00 am on 18 Oct. 2025, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near its center and gusts of up to 80 kph, PAGASA said in its 8:00 am advisory.

The storm was moving west northwestward at 15 kph and may make landfall over Catanduanes island Saturday afternoon or evening before continuing toward Aurora or Isabela provinces on Sunday.

PAGASA raised Signal No. 2 over Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, northern Camarines Sur and Polillo Islands, warning of “minor to moderate threat to life and property” from gale-force winds.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over large areas of Luzon including Metro Manila, the Cagayan Valley region, and parts of the Visayas, affecting tens of millions of residents.

“The possibility of reaching severe tropical storm category before landfall is not ruled out,” PAGASA said, noting the worst-case scenario could see Signal No. 3 raised.

Beyond areas under wind signals, the storm’s trough and outer rainbands will bring “strong to gale-force gusts” over Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Masbate and other areas Saturday, particularly in coastal and mountainous regions.

Weather forecasters warned of storm surge reaching up to two meters in low-lying coastal communities across eastern and northern Luzon within 48 hours.

Sea travel remained suspended along much of Luzon’s eastern seaboard, with waves reaching up to 4.5 meters off Catanduanes and Camarines provinces.

PAGASA said Ramil may maintain its strength while crossing northern and central Luzon’s rugged terrain before emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Sunday evening, where further intensification is possible.

The storm is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning.

LGU disaster management offices have been placed on alert, with vulnerable communities advised to prepare for possible evacuation orders.