PAGASA: Signal No. 4 up in part of Cagayan as Egay maintains strength

State weather bureau PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 in a portion of mainland Cagayan as Super Typhoon Egay gets closer to Northern Luzon. 

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA raised the following Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) in parts of the country:

TCWS No. 4

• The northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)

TCWS No. 3 

• Babuyan Islands
• The northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (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
• Ticao Island

At 10 a.m., Egay was located 270 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour, with gustiness of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 925 hPa.

Its strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 680 km from the center.

It was moving northwestward at 15 km/h.

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

“On the track forecast, it is forecast to make landfall or pass very close to Babuyan Islands-northeastern mainland Cagayan area between late evening today and tomorrow morning,” PAGASA said.

“Slight northward or southward shift in this segment of the track (but within the forecast confidence cone) may result in a landfall or close approach over northern mainland Cagayan or Batanes,” it added.

Rainfall

An accumulated rainfall of above 200 mm may be experienced over the northern portion of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur from Tuesday to Wednesday noon.

From 100 to 200 mm of accumulated rainfall is possible over the northern portion of La Union and the western portion of Kalinga.

Meanwhile, 50-100 mm of accumulated rainfall may be experienced over Isabela, the northern portion of Zambales, the rest of Ilocos Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

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

PAGASA also warned of possible flooding and rain-induced landslides in areas prone to these hazards and those areas that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.

The Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Egay will continue to bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas in the next three days, PAGASA said.

Winds

Significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds may be experienced within the areas under TCWS No. 4 and moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds for TCWS No. 3 areas.

Meanwhile, minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are possible within any of the areas under TCWS No. 2 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. 5 (e.g., extreme wind threat). 

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 

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, PAGASA said. 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 Luzon and Visayas 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.

In the next 24 hours, Egay will bring moderate to rough seas of up to 3.5 meters over the coastal waters outside the Gale Warning area along the western, northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

PAGASA advised mariners of small seacrafts to take precautionary measures when venturing over these waters. If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, they should avoid navigating in these conditions.

Several flights were also cancelled 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.

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