Egay now a super typhoon; 4 areas under Signal No. 3 —PAGASA

Egay has intensified into a super typhoon on Tuesday morning as four areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA raised the following storm signal warnings:

TCWS No. 3

• Babuyan Islands
• The northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Peñablanca, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Alcala, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Claveria, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Lasam, Baggao, Amulung, Iguig)
• The northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan)
• The northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, Pudtol)

TCWS No. 2

• Batanes
• The rest of mainland Cagayan
• The rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• The northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Solano, Bayombong)
• The rest of Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Kibungan)
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• The northern and central portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)

TCWS No. 1

• La Union
• Pangasinan
• The rest of Benguet
• The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• The rest of Aurora
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Cavite
• Batangas
• Quezon
• Marinduque
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias Island, and
• Ticao Island
• Northern Samar

Egay was located at 310 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.

It was moving moving northwestward at 10 km/h.

PAGASA said Egay may make landfall or pass very close to Babuyan Islands-northeastern mainland Cagayan area between late Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon.

Rainfall

An accumulated rainfall of above 200 mm may be experienced in the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

From 100 to 200 mm accumulated rainfall is expected over Ilocos Sur, Abra, the northern portion of La Union, the western portion of Kalinga, and the rest of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, and Apayao.

Meanwhile, 50-100 mm accumulated rainfall may pour over Batanes, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela, the northern portion of Zambales, and the rest of Ilocos Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Forecast rainfall is generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas, according to PAGASA.

"Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are highly likely especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days," it said.

Egay enhanced the Southwest Monsoon bringing occasional to monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas in the next three days.

Winds

Moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds are expected within the areas under TCWS Signal No. 3, minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds for TCWS No. 2 areas, and minimal to minor impacts from strong winds for TCWS No. 1 areas.

Based on the current forecast scenario, PAGASA said the highest wind signal that may be hoisted will be TCWS No. 4 or 5 (e.g., typhoon-force wind threat). 

"The wind signals warn the public of the general wind threat over an area due to the tropical cyclone. Local winds may be slightly stronger/enhanced in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds. Winds are less strong in areas sheltered from the prevailing wind direction," PAGASA said.

Egay and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will continue to bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any TCWS, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds: Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the northern portions of Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

Coastal Inundation 

PAGASA advised that there is a "high risk" of storm surge which may cause flooding in the low-lying and exposed coastal areas of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and Ilocos Norte. Maximum surge heights may exceed 3.0 m in some of the warning areas.

A Gale Warning is in effect over several coastal waters along the seaboards of Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas, as well as the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and Northeastern Mindanao. 

In rough to high or very high seas, PAGASA said sea travel is risky for most vessels and all mariners are advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor until winds and waves subside.

In rough to very rough seas, meanwhile, PAGASA said sea travel is risky for small seacrafts. For larger vessels, PAGASA said operating in gale conditions requires experience and properly equipped vessels. Mariners without proper experience or operating ill-equipped vessels should remain in port or seek safe harbor, it added.

Egay is expected to move northwestward in the next 12 hours before turning generally west northwestward and cross the Luzon Strait. 

Several flights were also canceled because of the bad weather:

Cebu Pacific

July 25 (Tuesday):

5J 196/197: Manila – Cauayan – Manila
DG 6177/6178: Manila – Masbate – Manila
DG 6113/6114: Manila – Naga – Manila
DG 6117/6118: Manila – Naga – Manila
DG 6031/6032: Manila – San Jose – Manila
5J 504/505: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila
5J 506/507: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila
5J 821/822: Manila – Virac – Manila

July 26 (Wednesday)

5J 196/197: Manila – Cauayan – Manila
5J 504/505: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila
5J 506/507: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila

PAL

Domestic flights canceled

July 25 (Tuesday)

PR 2932/2933 Manila-Basco-Manila
PR 2198/2199 Manila-Laoag-Manila

July 26 (Wednesday)

PR 2932/2933 Manila-Basco-Manila
PR 2196/2197 Manila-Laoag-Manila
PR 2198/2199 Manila-Laoag-Manila
PR 2230/2231 Cebu-Baguio-Cebu

July 27 (Thursday)

PR 2932/2933 Manila-Basco-Manila

A number of classes and government work have also been suspended due to Egay. 

The Supreme Court also announced that work in some courts were also suspended due to the super typhoon.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said a nearly 17 thousand people have been affected by Egay and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.

Exit by Thursday

After its possible landfall or close approach over the Babuyan Islands and northeastern Cagayan area, Egay will turn northwestward or north northwestward and pass over the waters south of Taiwan. 

"EGAY is nearing its peak intensity. A short window of high favorable environment in the near term will allow it to either maintain its intensity in the next 12 hour or slightly intensify," PAGASA said.

"Afterwards, a weakening trend may begin due to increasing interaction with the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon and Taiwan. Further weakening is expected outside the PAR region due to increasingly unfavorable environment and the eventual landfall over the landmass of China," it added.

Egay may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning, PAGASA said.  —Joviland Rita/ VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News