Karding reaches super typhoon category, Signal No. 4 up over Polillo Islands

Karding has reached the super typhoon category on Sunday morning, with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 now hoisted over Polillo Islands, PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said the center of the eye of Karding was last spotted 230 km east of Infanta, Quezon (15.0°N, 123.8°E).

It has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 925 hPa.

PAGASA said Karding’s present movement is westward at 20 km/h.

It also has strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 290 km from the center.

“Karding reached super typhoon category at 5:00 AM today after a period of explosive intensification of 90 km/h in 24 hours. It is forecast to continue intensifying and may make landfall at or near a peak intensity of 185-205 km/h,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA said TCWS No. 4 has been raised over Polillo Islands where typhoon-force winds with significant to severe threat to life and property are expected within 12 hours.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 3 — where storm-force winds that could bring moderate to significant threat to life and property are expected within 18 hours — was raised over the following areas:

1. the central and southern portions of Aurora (Dingalan, San Luis, Baler, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao);
2. the central and southern portions of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Rizal, Llanera, Science City of Muñoz, Guimba, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Nampicuan, San Antonio, Cabiao, San Isidro, City of Gapan, Zaragoza, Jaen, Licab, Quezon, Aliaga, Santa Rosa, San Leonardo, Santo Domingo, Talavera, Cabanatuan City, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Peñaranda, General Tinio, Laur, Gabaldon);
3. Bulacan;
4. the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, Arayat, Santa Ana, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit);
5. the northern portion of Metro Manila (Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Navotas, Malabon, Caloocan, Valenzuela);
6. the northern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, Tanay, Baras, City of Antipolo, San Mateo, Cainta, Taytay, Angono, Teresa, Morong, Pililla);
7. the northeastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Mabitac, Paete, Kalayaan, Pakil);
8. the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real, General Nakar, Mauban); and
9. the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga).

Placed under TCWS No. 2, where gale-force winds could lead to minor to moderate threat to life and property within 24 hours, were the following:

1. the southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones);
2. Quirino;
3. Nueva Vizcaya;
4. Benguet;
5. La Union;
6. Pangasinan;
7. Zambales;
8. Bataan;
9. Tarlac;
10. the rest of Pampanga;
11. the rest of Nueva Ecija;
12. the rest of Aurora;
13. the rest of Metro Manila;
14. Cavite;
15. Batangas;
16. the rest of Laguna;
17. the rest of Rizal;
18. the central portions of Quezon (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, San Antonio, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista);
19. the rest of Camarines Norte;
20. 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
21. Catanduanes.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1, where strong winds could result in minimal to minor threat to life and property in the next 36 hours, was hoisted over these areas:

1. the southern portion of Cagayan (Tuao, Solana, Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Peñablanca);
2. the rest of Isabela;
3. the southern portion of Apayao (Conner);
4. Kalinga;
5. Abra;
6. Mountain Province;
7. Ifugao;
8. the southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, Banna, City of Batac, Currimao, Paoay, Marcos);
9. Ilocos Sur;
10. the rest of Quezon;
11. the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz) including Lubang Islands;
12. the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan);
13. Marinduque;
14. the rest of Camarines Sur;
15. Albay;
16. Sorsogon;
17. Burias Island; and
18. Ticao Island.

Track, intensity

PAGASA said Karding is forecast to track generally west southwestward or westward in the next 6 to 12 hours, then westward or northwestward for the remainder of Sunday.

Due to this, the state weather bureau said it is likely that Karding will make landfall in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon or the southern portion of Aurora on Sunday night.

The possibility of an earlier landfall in Sunday afternoon or close approach in the vicinity of Polillo Islands is, however, not ruled out.

For the remainder of Sunday evening post-landfall through early Monday morning, Karding will traverse the landmass of Central Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea via the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan.

It will then continue tracking generally westward over the West Philippine Sea for the remainder of the forecast period.

PAGASA said “frictional effects” during landfall and traverse of the Luzon landmass will weaken Karding throughout Sunday evening through tomorrow early morning, although it is highly likely that it will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass.

Rainfall

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains over Isabela, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Isabela are expected on Sunday morning through early afternoon.

Mainland Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, and the rest of Bicol Region, meanwhile, may experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may also prevail over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands on Sunday early afternoon through early Monday morning.

Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Cavite, Laguna, the central portion of Quezon, and Camarines Norte may see moderate to heavy with at times intense rains, while Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, and the rest of Calabarzon and Bicol Region may experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

For early Monday morning through early afternoon, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may affect Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, and the rest of Central Luzon may also experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Calabarzon.

PAGASA warned that under such conditions, scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected.

Due to the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Karding, occasional to monsoon rains are also possible over Visayas and the rest of Southern Luzon, especially on their western sections, the state weather bureau added.

Coastal Inundation

PAGASA said there is a high to very high risk of storm surge in the low-lying and exposed coastal areas of northern Quezon including Polillo Islands and the central and southern portions of Aurora.

Camarines Norte, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bulacan, the northern portion of Metro Manila, the southern portion of La Union, and the rest of Aurora and Quezon, on the other hand, have a moderate to high risk of storm surge.

“The combined effects of storm surge and high waves breaking along the coast may cause life-threatening and damaging inundation or flooding,” PAGASA said.

Coastal waters

A marine gale warning would remain in effect over the eastern and western seaboards of Luzon due to Karding.

In the next 24 hours, the super typhoon and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon may also bring moderate to rough seas over the northern and western seaboards of Luzon that are not under any gale warning (1.5 to 3.5 m) and the western seaboard of Visayas (1.2 to 2.5 m).

PAGASA warned that these conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts, while mariners were advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea or avoid navigating in such conditions.

Classes, evacuation

Classes for Monday, September 26, in all levels in public and private schools in the province of Aurora have been canceled due to the bad weather.

The Quezon provincial government meanwhile has ordered the forced evacuation of residents in coastal and landslide-prone areas in Polillo Islands. —KG, GMA News