Signal No. 4 up in portion of Babuyan Islands due to Typhoon Goring

State weather bureau PAGASA on Tuesday raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 over the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) intensifies while moving west-northwestward over the Philippine waters.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of the eye of the typhoon was last seen 165 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan as of 4 p.m.

It is moving west-northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (km/h) while packing maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 205 km/h, and central pressure of 945 hPa.

Strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 350 km from its center, the weather bureau added.

TCWS No. 3 is hoisted in the following areas where winds of 118 to 184 km/h may be expected in at least 12 hours:

• southern portion of Batanes (Sabtang, Uyugan, Ivana, Mahatao, Basco)
• rest of Babuyan Islands

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 2 is up in the following localities, where winds of greater than 62 kph and up to 88 km/h may be expected in at least 24 hours:

• northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Santa Teresita, Allacapan, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca)
• rest of Batanes
• northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Bangui, Dumalneg)
• northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, Pudtol)

TCWS No. 1 was raised in the following areas, where winds of 39 km/h to 61 km/h ay be expected in at least 36 hours:

• northern and eastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, San Pablo, Cabagan, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano)
• rest of Ilocos Norte
• rest of Cagayan
• rest of Apayao
• northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Lacub, Malibcong)
• northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk)

Earlier in the day, several courts in Batanes and Occidental Mindoro suspended work due to inclement weather, according to the Supreme Court.

Some flights were also cancelled Tuesday.

The province of Cagayan cancelled classes at all levels, both public and private, for Wednesday due to Typhoon Goring.

Heavy rainfall

Heavy rainfall accumulating to 100 to 200 millimeters is expected in the Babuyan Islands on Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon.

Accumulated rainfall of 50 to 100 milimeters are forecast in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Abra, Apayao, and the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan.

“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.

The enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat) will continue to bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas in the next three days.

Strong winds

Meanwhile, the weather bureau raised the possibility of hoisting storm signal number 5 in extreme northern Luzon due to severe winds.

The enhanced southwest Monsoon will likewise continue to bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any storm signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Camiguin, and most of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Marine gale warning

A marine gale warning will also remain in effect over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas, and northern Mindanao.

Disruption in civilian maritime activities is expected over these areas due to hazardous sea condition.

Forecast track

Goring is seen to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

Prior to this, the typhoon is expected to follow a mainly northwestward or west northwestward path across the Luzon Strait from Tuesday until its expected exit.

Based on the forecast track, Goring  may pass very close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Island between Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. During this period, the typhoon is forecast to persist in strength by the time it passes very close or over Batanes.

Outside the PAR region, the typhoon will continue its west northwestward movement for the remainder of Thursday before turning more westward by Friday, increasingly unfavorable conditions over the waters southeast of mainland China will trigger a weakening trend.

Goring is forecast to have weakened to minimal typhoon strength by the time it make landfall in the vicinity of southeastern China on Sunday.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News