Aghon intensifies into typhoon; Polillo Islands still under Signal 3

Aghon intensified into a typhoon Sunday night, as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 remained hoisted over the Polillo Islands.

In an 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, weather service PAGASA reported that Aghon was over the coastal waters of Quezon's Burdeos town, heading northeast at 15 kilometers per hour.

Aghon had maximum sustained winds of 120 kph, which could gust up to 180 kph.

With the Polillo Islands under Signal 3, heavy rains from 100 to 200 mm could be expected at the locality, accompanied by storm-force winds that could have a moderate to significant impact.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 was up over:

• Aurora, 
• the northern and central portions of Quezon (Real, General Nakar, Infanta, Mauban, Calauag, Perez, Alabat, Quezon), and 
• the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Santa Elena, Capalonga).

Signal No.1 was up over:

• the eastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, San Agustin, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, City of Cauayan, Maconacon, Angadanan, Naguilian, Palanan, Dinapigue), the eastern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan, Aglipay), 
• the eastern  portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte), 
• the eastern portion 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, Llanera), 
• the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Santa Ana, Arayat, Mexico, Sasmuan, Macabebe, Masantol, Santo Tomas, Minalin, City of San Fernando, Bacolor), 
• the southeastern portion of Bataan (Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles), Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, the rest of Camarines Norte, and 
• the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Milaor, Cabusao, Camaligan, Pili, Sipocot, Pamplona, Ragay, San Fernando, Magarao, Minalabac, Del Gallego, Libmanan, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Canaman, Pasacao, Gainza, Lupi).

PAGASA added that there was a minimal to moderate risk of a storm surge over the exposed and low-lying coastal areas of:

• Cagayan (southern coast),
• Isabela,
• Aurora,
• Quezon,
• Marinduque, and
• Camarines Norte..

Coastal waters

A Gale Warning was hoisted over the coastal waters of: 

• Aurora, 
• Quezon, 
• Marinduque, 
• the southern coastal waters of Batangas, and 
• the northern coastal waters of Camarines Norte. 

PAGASA warned that sea travel was risky for small seacraft, including all motorbancas of any type of tonnage, in these waters.

Meanwhile, coastal conditions would be moderate to rough (1.5 to 3.5 m) over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the seaboard of the Bicol Region. 

Mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels were advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea. Nevertheless, PAGASA urged that, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels.

Track, intensity

PAGASA projected that Aghon would continue intensifying over the next two days while accelerating northeastward over the Philippine Sea. 

The typhoon would exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday afternoon or evening.

Once outside the PAR, Aghon would continue northeastward towards the sea south of mainland Japan. 

A weakening trend may also begin by Thursday. — DVM, GMA Integrated News