Goring rapidly intensifies; Signal No. 2 over two areas

Typhoon Goring continues to rapidly intensify over the sea east of Babuyan Islands as Signal No. 2 was hoisted over parts of Cagayan and Isabela on Saturday, PAGASA reported.

As of 4 a.m., the center of the eye of Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) was estimated at 200 kilometers east southeast of Calayan, Cagayan or 185 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 170 km/h, and central pressure of 970 hPa.

Goring continues to move southwestward at a speed of 10 km/h with strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 220 km from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:

• the extreme northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga); and
• the extreme northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon).

TCWS No. 1 was raised over the following areas:

• Batanes;
• Babuyan Islands;
• the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Allacapan);
• the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Pablo, Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan City, Divilacan, Palanan); and
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran).

Hazards affecting land areas

Forecast accumulated rainfall on Saturday is 100-200 mm over the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan and 50-100 mm over Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the northeastern portion of Isabela, Abra, the northern portion of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.

"Forecast rainfall are generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas. Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible 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," PAGASA warned.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat enhanced by Goring will bring occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas over the next three day.

The eastern portion of Cagayan will be stormy due to Typhoon Goring with the possibility that flooding or landslides will occur due to heavy to intense rains. There will be minor to moderate threat to lives and properties due to strong winds.

Batanes, Isabela, Aurora, and the rest of Cagayan will have rains with gusty winds due to the typhoon with the possibility that flooding or landslides will occur due to moderate to heavy rains. There will be minimal to minor threat to lives and properties due to strong winds.

Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and the rest of Cagayan Valley will have cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms due to the trough of of the typhoon with the possibility of flooding or landslides occurring due to moderate to heavy rains.

Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the rest of Central Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon. The weather bureau warned that flooding or landslides may occur due to moderate with at times heavy rains.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon and localized thunderstorms. Flash floods or landslides may occur during severe thunderstorms.

Hazards affecting land areas

There will possibly be minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds within any of the areas under TCWS No. 2 and minimal to minor impacts from strong winds in any of the areas where TCWS No.1 was hoisted.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

PAGASA reported that a gale warning is in effect for the northern and eastern coastal waters of Northern Luzon and the eastern coastal waters of Central Luzon.

The bureau added that due to these conditions, sea travel is risky for certain types or tonnage of vessels over these areas.

Track and intensity outlook

Typhoon Goring will exit its looping path and move northwestward towards the sea east of Taiwan after Sunday.

"Due to highly favorable environment, Goring is forecast continue intensifying throughout most of the forecast period and may reach super typhoon category on Monday. Upwelling of cooler waters due to its slow movement will limit further intensification by late Monday or early Tuesday," PAGASA said. — BAP/KG, GMA Integrated News