Goring moves northwestward over Balintang Channel; two areas under Signal No. 4

Super Typhoon Goring continues to move northwestward over the Balintang Channel, with two areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4, PAGASA reported early Friday morning.

According to PAGASA's 5 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin, the center of the eye of Super Typhoon Goring was estimated to be over the coastal waters of Sabtang, Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 240 km/h, and central pressure of 920 hPa.

It added that Goring is moving northwestward at the speed of 20 km/h with strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 340 km from the center.

TCWS No. 4 is raised over the following areas:

• the southern portion of Batanes (Sabtang, Uyugan, Ivana, Mahatao, Basco)
• the northern portions of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Is., Babuyan Is.)

TCWS No. 3 is hoisted over the following areas:

• the rest of Batanes and the southwestern portion of Babuyan Islands (Fuga Is., Dalupiri Is.)

TCWS No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

• the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Claveria, Abulug, Ballesteros, Santa Ana, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Bangui, Dumalneg)

TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas:

• the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal)
• the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Lacub, Malibcong, San Juan, Danglas, La Paz)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte, and the extreme northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan)

Hazards affecting land areas

Forecast accumulated rainfall for today is greater than 200 mm over the southern portion of Batanes and the northwestern portions of Babuyan Islands, 100-200 mm over Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Apayao, the extreme northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the rest of Batanes and Babuyan Islands, and 50-100 mm over Ilocos Sur, Abra, the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the rest of Apayao.

Batanes and Northeastern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands will be stormy because of Super Typhoon Goring. Flooding or landslides may occur in these areas due to moderate to heavy rains that could pose as a minor to moderate threat to lives and properties due to strong winds.

Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and the rest of mainland Cagayan will have rains with gusty winds also due to Goring with the possible occurrence of flooding or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains. There may be minimal to minor threat to lives and properties due to strong winds.

Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan will have monsoon rains due to the southwest monsoon. Flooding or landslides may occur in these areas due to scattered to widespread rains.

Metro Manila, the rest of Ilocos Region, the rest of MIMAROPA, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, and Batangas will have occasional rains due to the southwest monsoon with possible flooding or landslides occurring due to moderate to heavy rains.

The rest of Luzon, the rest of Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon with possible flooding or landslides occurring 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 with the possibility that flash floods or landslides may occur during severe thunderstorms.

Severe Winds

PAGASA reported that 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."

The enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds, these areas are: the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

Coastal Inundation

The weather bureau added that there is a moderate to high risk of storm surge that may cause flooding in the low-lying and exposed coastal areas of the northern portion of Babuyan Islands and the southern portion of Batanes.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

A Gale Warning is in effect for most seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao. Disruption in civilian maritime activities is expected over these areas due to hazardous sea condition.

Track and Intensity Outlook

Super Typhoon Goring is forecast to move northwestward or west northwestward and cross the Luzon Strait on Wednesday until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight or on Thursday morning. Goring will likely remain as a super typhoon until Friday.  — BAP, GMA Integrated News