Marce now a typhoon, PAGASA says

Severe Tropical Storm Marce has intensified into a typhoon on Tuesday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

“As of 10:00 AM today, Typhoon MARCE [YINXING]  #MarcePH Update. All are advised to monitor updates from DOST-PAGASA,” PAGASA said in a Facebook post.

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said Marce was located 640 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora moving west northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Earlier in the day, PAGASA said five areas were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:

• Batanes;
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
• the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Palanan, Dinapigue, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Tumauini, Santo Tomas, Ilagan City, Divilacan, San Mariano);
• the northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan, Flora, Pudtol); and
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar).

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has remained on heightened alert due to Marce.

NDRRMC chairperson and Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said concerned agencies are closely monitoring the situation with Marce.

Some areas in Cagayan suspended classes on Tuesday, Nov. 5, due to the possible effects of Marce. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News