Signal No. 2 up over parts of 4 provinces as Aghon maintains strength

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised over parts of Quezon, Rizal, Batangas and Laguna on Sunday morning as Tropical Storm Aghon maintained its strength, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

Based on its 8 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas were under TCWS No. 2:

• the northern and central portions of Quezon (Alabat, Perez, Quezon, Gumaca, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Unisan, Pitogo, Plaridel, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Mauban, Real, General Nakar, Infanta, Sampaloc, Pagbilao, Calauag, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Dolores, San Antonio) including Polillo Islands;
• Laguna;
• the eastern portion of Rizal (Jala-Jala, Pililla, Tanay);
• and the eastern portion of Batangas (City of Tanauan, San Jose, Lipa City, Mataasnakahoy, Balete, Malvar, Santo Tomas, Cuenca, San Pascual, Batangas City, Ibaan, Padre Garcia, Rosario, San Juan, Taysan, Lobo).

Gale-force winds ranging 62 to 88 km/h may occur in these areas within the next 24 hours. Wind impacts may also result in minor to moderate threat to life and property.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 was raised over the following areas:

• the southeastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Dinapigue);
• the southern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan);
• the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda);
• the eastern and southern portions of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Pantabangan, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Laur, Palayan City, Peñaranda, San Leonardo, City of Gapan, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, San Isidro, Cabiao, San Antonio, Jaen);
• Aurora;
• the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Santa Ana, Arayat);
• Bulacan;
• Metro Manila;
• the rest of Quezon;
• the rest of Rizal;
• Cavite;
• the rest of Batangas;
• the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Pinamalayan, Pola, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, City of Calapan, Bansud, Gloria, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Bongabong, Roxas);
• Marinduque;
• Romblon;
• Camarines Norte;
• Camarines Sur;
• the northern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Polangui, Malinao, Libon, Oas, City of Ligao); and
• Burias Island.

Strong winds from 39 to 61 km/h may be expected in these areas within the next 36 hours. Wind impacts may result in minimal to minor threat to life and property.

PAGASA said the center of Aghon was estimated in the vicinity of Dolores, Quezon at 7 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 110 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa.

It was moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

Strong to gale-force winds extend outwards up to 220 km from the center.

Coastal waters

Within the next 24 hours, PAGASA warned there is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge over the exposed and low-lying coastal areas of Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay (west coast), Burias Island, mainland Masbate (northwest coast), and Aklan.

A gale warning was hoisted over the coastal waters of Marinduque and Quezon, the southern coastal waters of Batangas, and the northern coastal waters of Camarines Norte, meaning sea travel is risky for small seacrafts, including all motorbancas of any type of tonnage.

In areas where there is no gale warning, PAGASA said Aghon will bring moderate to rough seas, particularly over the coastal waters along the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the seaboard of Bicol Region.

Mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels were thus advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and just avoid navigating in these conditions if possible.

Track, intensity

In the next 12 hours, PAGASA said Aghon will move across the landmass of mainland Calabarzon and Polillo Islands.

It is expected to be over the waters off the east coast of Quezon or Aurora by Sunday evening or Monday early morning. During this period, Aghon will likely remain as a tropical storm, but it is also possible that it may weaken into a tropical depression while over mainland Calabarzon due to land interaction.

From Monday through the remainder of the forecast period, Aghon will gradually accelerate northeastward while intensifying and may reach a severe tropical storm category on Tuesday.

PAGASA said Aghon may reach typhoon category within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), although it will most likely happen far from the landmass.

It may also exit the PAR region on Wednesday.

Some flights were canceled on Sunday due to the bad weather caused by Aghon.

More than 6,000 passengers were also stranded on Sunday as sea travel was halted in several ports. —KG, GMA Integrated News