Karding continues to intensify as Polillo Islands, part of Camarines Norte still under Signal No.3

The Polillo Islands and northern portion of Camarines Norte remained under Signal No. 3 while Typhoon Karding continued to rapidly intensify while moving west southwestward, weather bureau PAGASA said late Saturday evening.

Based on its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Karding was spotted 430 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora.

The typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 160 km/h. It was moving west southwestward at 15 km/h.

The following areas were placed under Signal No. 3: 

-Polillo Islands and the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga)

Signal No. 2 was raised over the following areas: 

-The southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones), 
-Quirino, 
-The central and southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Sur, Aritao, Santa Fe, Bambang, Dupax del Norte, Kasibu, Quezon, Bayombong, Diadi), 
-The eastern portion of Pangasinan (Mangatarem, Basista, Urbiztondo, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Pozorrubio, Sison, Bayambang, Bautista, Alcala, Santo Tomas, Villasis, City of Urdaneta, Laoac, Binalonan, Asingan, Rosales, Santa Maria, Balungao, Umingan, San Quintin, Tayug, Natividad, San Manuel, San Nicolas),
-Bataan, 
-Tarlac, 
-Pampanga, 
-Bulacan, 
-Nueva Ecija, 
-Aurora, 
-Metro Manila, 
-Cavite, 
-The eastern portion of Batangas (Talisay, City of Tanauan, Santo Tomas, Malvar), 
-Laguna, 
-Rizal, 
-The northern and central portions of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Calauag, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Sampaloc, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Pitogo, Dolores, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista), 
-The rest of Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Libmanan, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando, Pili, Minalabac, Ocampo, Tigaon, Cabusao, Magarao, Gainza, Canaman, Camaligan, Milaor, Naga City, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Sagñay), 
-and Catanduanes

Under Signal No. 1 are: 

-The southern portion of Cagayan (Tuao, Solana, Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Peñablanca), 
-The rest of Isabela, 
-The rest of Nueva Vizcaya, 
-The southern portion of Apayao (Conner), 
-Kalinga, 
-Abra, 
-Mountain Province, 
-Ifugao, 
-Benguet, 
-The southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, Banna, City of Batac, Currimao, Paoay, Marcos), 
-Ilocos Sur, 
-La Union, 
-The rest of Pangasinan, 
-Zambales, 
-The rest of Batangas, 
-The rest of Quezon, 
-The northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz) including Lubang Islands, 
-The northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola), 
-Marinduque, 
-The rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, the northern portion of Sorsogon (Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, City of Sorsogon, Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Magallanes, Juban, Casiguran), 
-and Burias Island.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains will prevail over mainland Cagayan and Isabela on Saturday night through Sunday morning.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over the Babuyan Islands, Aurora, northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur. 

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will prevail over Metro Manila, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, southern portion of Aurora, Rizal, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polilio Islands on Sunday morning until evening.

The rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, the northern portion of Aurora, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, and the central portion of Quezon will experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. 

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Batangas, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes. 

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan and moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Metro Manila, Quirino, the rest of Central Luzon, and Cavite will take place between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

Light to moderate rains will prevail over Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, and the rest of Calabarzon during this period.

Under these conditions, PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall.

Occasional rains are also possible over Visayas and the rest of Southern Luzon, especially on their western sections due to the Southwest Monsoon partly influenced by Karding. 

A marine gale warning remains in effect over the eastern seaboards of Luzon.

In the next 24 hours, prevailing northeasterlies and the approaching typhoon will also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.5 m) over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon. 

The typhoon is expected to track generally west southwestward or westward in the next 12 hours before turning more westward towards the east coast of southern portion of Aurora or northern portion of Quezon, where it is likely to make landfall on Sunday afternoon or early evening.

“Karding is forecast to continue rapidly intensifying in the near term and may make landfall at or near peak intensity of 150-155 km/h," PAGASA said.

"While it is likely for this tropical cyclone to slightly weaken during its landfall and traverse of Central Luzon due to frictional effects, it is highly likely that Karding will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass."  — VBL, GMA News