Tropical Depression Neneng picked up speed early Thursday as it tracked west-northwest at 30 kilometers per hour, according to the state weather agency.
As of 4:00 a.m., the cyclone’s center was estimated at 390 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes. It maintains maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, with wind gusts reaching up to 55 kph.
While the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has not raised tropical cyclone wind signals over any portion of the country, strong to gale-force gusts are expected across major portions of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region due to the intensified southwest monsoon (habagat).
PAGASA warns that rough sea conditions will affect the coastal waters of Batanes, the northern and western margins of the Babuyan Islands, and the coastlines along Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, western Pangasinan, and northern Kalayaan Islands.
Operators of small sea vessels and motorbancas are urged to exercise extreme caution when navigating these areas.
Forecasters expect Neneng to steadily lose strength and downgrade into a remnant low within the next 12 hours.