13 areas under Signal No. 2; Jolina weakens into severe tropical storm

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was lifted as Typhoon Jolina weakened into a severe tropical storm on Tuesday afternoon, PAGASA said.

However, over a dozen areas were still under TCWS No. 2, which means "damaging gale-force to storm-force winds" are prevailing or expected within 24 hours.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said under TCWS No. 2 are:

• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• the northern portion of Romblon (San Fernando, Cajidiocan, Magdiwang, Romblon, Corcuera, Banton, Concepcion, Calatrava, San Agustin, San Andres) Sorsogon
• Albay (Polangui, Oas, City of Ligao, Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Legazpi City, Manito, Jovellar, Pio Duran, Libon)
• the western and southern portions of Camarines Sur (Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Iriga City, Baao, Bula, Ocampo, Pili, Naga City, Canaman, Pamplona, Milaor, Gainza, Camaligan, San Fernando, Minalabac, Pasacao, Libmanan, Magarao, Cabusao, Bombon, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego)
• the western portion of Camarines Norte (Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Santa Elena, Labo, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz)
• the central and southern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Mulanay, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Calauag, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Atimonan, Plaridel, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Mauban, City of Tayabas, Sampaloc, Lucban, Pagbilao, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Real)
• Laguna
• the southeastern portion of Batangas (Santo Tomas, Malvar, Balete, Mataasnakahoy, Lipa City, Padre Garcia, Rosario, San Juan, Lobo, Taysan, Ibaan, Batangas City, San Jose, Cuenca)
• Marinduque
• the western portion of Northern Samar (Lope de Vega, Catarman, Bobon, Victoria,
• San Jose, Rosario, Lavezares, Biri, Allen, San Isidro, San Antonio, Capul, San Vicente, Mondragon)
• the extreme northwestern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Santo Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-An)
• the northern portion of Biliran (Maripipi, Kawayan, Almeria)

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 was raised over the following areas:

• the rest of Camarines Norte
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• the rest of Albay
• Catanduanes
• the rest ofRomblon
• Oriental Mindoro
• Occidental Mindoro
• the rest of Quezon
• Rizal
• the rest of Batangas
• Cavite,
• Metro Manila
• Bulacan
• Bataan
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac,
• Zambales
• Pampanga
• the southern portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, San Luis, Dingalan)
• the southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan)
• the southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Alfonso Castaneda, Aritao, Santa Fe)
• the southern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Umingan, Balungao, Santa Maria, Asingan, San Manuel, Tayug, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Laoac, Binalonan, City of Urdaneta, Rosales, Villasis, Santo Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang, Malasiqui, Manaoag, San Jacinto, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Calasiao, San Carlos City, Binmaley, Basista, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Aguilar, Lingayen, Bugallon, Infanta, Labrador, Sual, Mabini, Dasol)
• The rest of northern Samar
• the northern and central portions of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Paranas, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Pagsanghan, Motiong, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Talalora, Santa Rita, Daram, Zumarraga)
• the northern of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo)
• the rest of Biliran
• the northern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Leyte, Tabango, Villaba, Matag-Ob, Kananga, Capoocan, Carigara, Jaro, Alangalang, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Santa Fe, Palompon, Isabel, Merida, Ormoc City, Dagami, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Pastrana, Barugo, Tunga, Palo, Tolosa, Burauen, Albuera)
• the northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, Santa Fe, Bantayan Islands, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Compostela, Camotes Islands, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Balamban, Mandaue City)
• the northern portion Negros Occidental (Cadiz City, Manapla, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Silay City)
• the northern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Estancia, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, San Rafael, Barotac Viejo, City of Passi, Bingawan)
• Capiz
• Aklan

Areas under TCWS No. 1 would experience strong winds with occasional gusts that could result in very light damage to structure and vegetation.

As of 1 p.m., PAGASA said Jolina was estimated in the vicinity of Baleno, Masbate, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.

PAGASA said Jolina may make another -- its sixth -- landfall in the vicinity of southeastern Quezon on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. It may then emerge over the West Philippine Sea before noon on Thursday.

Effects so far

No major damage has so far been reported, but the province of Eastern Samar has had a power outage, Governor Ben Evardone earlier said on Dobol B TV on Tuesday.

However, they are currently conducting a rapid assessment with emergency teams and personnel from the local government unit.

The governor said Hernani, Eastern Samar Mayor Amado Candido told him a highway was rendered unpassable and some structures with light materials were damaged.

Evardone said they already advised fishermen not to venture out into the sea on Monday in anticipation of the strong waves caused by the typhoon.

Classes and flights were also canceled in some areas due to the inclement weather caused by Jolina.

Hazards affecting land areas

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said heavy to intense with at times, torrential rains are expected to prevail over Masbate, Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Northern Samar, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines provinces, Southern Quezon, Romblon, and Marinduque.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may prevail over the Mindoro Provinces and the rest of CALABARZON and Visayas.

“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” it said.

PAGASA said the threat of coastal inundation due to storm surge will also continue for several localities of Biliran, Sorsogon, Samar, and Masbate, which may pose threat to life and property.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

Jolina is also expected to bring rough to very rough seas over the seaboards where TCWS No. 2 is in effect.

“Sea travel is risky for all types of seacrafts over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor,” PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, moderate to rough seas may prevail over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1, the remaining seaboards of Visayas, and the northern eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

“Mariners of small seacraft are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA said. —KBK, GMA News