Catanduanes under Signal 4 as Typhoon Nina moves closer

Catanduanes province in the Bicol region was placed under Storm Signal No. 4 as Typhoon Nina (Nock-ten) intensified and moved closer to landmass Sunday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

Nina intensified further, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of 255 kph as it moves west at 15 kph.

Strong winds from 171 to 220 kph could lash Catanduanes in the next 12 hours.

In its 10 a.m. weather update, PAGASA said Nina was last located at 150 km East of Virac, Catanduanes, and was forecast to make landfall in the province on Sunday evening.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within its 500 km diameter. Flash floods and landslides are also expected over Catanduanes, Camatiens provinces, Southern Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, and Metro Manila due to moderate to heavy rains from Nina.

PAGASA also warned the public against storm surges that could reach as high as two to three meters at the coastal areas of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 (TCWS #3) is up in the following provinces: 

• Burias Island
• Albay
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Southern Quezon

Light to heavy damage on structures and heavy losses for crops is expected in areas under Signal No. 3.

Several areas in Luzon and Northern Samar in Visayas were also placed under Signal No. 2. Under this weather condition, minor to moderate  damage to structures and crops can be expected. 

Areas under Signal 2 are:

• Masbate including Ticao Island
• Sorsogon
• Oriental Mindoro
• Batangas
• Laguna
• Rest of Quezon including Polillo
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Northern Samar
• PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 over:
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Bataan
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Southern Quirino
• Southern Nueva Vizcaya
• Zambales
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Tarlac
• Cavite
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Bantayan Island

Minimal damage to structures is expected under Signal No. 1. But crops may suffer significant damage during the flowering stage.

Based on PAGASA projections, Typhoon Nina is expected to be:

• In the vicinity of Catanauan, Quezon on Monday morning
• 200 km West Southwest of Iba, Zambales on Tuesday morning
• 335 km North of Pagasa Island, Palawan, or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning
• 290 km west-northwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan by Thursday morning.

PAGASA advised the public to stay on alert and monitor the bureau's future weather bulletins.

GMA News Online has compiled the following links for easy access to information as the nation deals with Typhoon Nina and its possible aftermath: Typhoon Nina quick linls. —with Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LBG, GMA News