Severe Tropical Storm "Marce" has intensified and is close to reaching typhoon category, according to PAGASA's Tuesday update, November 5.
As of the latest tracking, Marce's center was located 735 km east of Baler, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and gusts up to 135 km/h. The storm is moving northwestward at 25 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 have been raised in the following areas:
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- The northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Palanan, Dinapigue, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Tumauini, Santo Tomas, Ilagan City, Divilacan, San Mariano)
- The northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan, Flora, Pudtol)
- The northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar)
These areas may experience minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.
PAGASA stated that Wind Signal No. 4 could be issued if Marce continues to intensify. Marce is forecast to move generally west-northwest until Wednesday morning, November 6, then slow down and shift westward over the Philippine Sea east of Extreme Northern Luzon.
The storm may make landfall over Babuyan Islands or northern Cagayan between Thursday evening, November 7, and early Friday, November 8. Due to variability in the high-pressure area north of Marce, the forecast track could still shift toward the Cagayan-Isabela mainland.
Marce is expected to reach peak intensity before potential landfall over Babuyan Islands and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or early Saturday, November 9.
