Signal No. 2 up over parts of Babuyan Islands, Cagayan due to Marce

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised over two areas in Luzon as Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing) decelerated over the Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said TCWS No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:

• the eastern portion of Babuyan islands (Camiguin Is., Babuyan Is., Calayan Is., and Fuga Is.); and
• the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Gattaran, Aparri, Camalaniugan).

Meanwhile, the following areas were placed under TCWS No. 1:

• Batanes;
• the rest of Babuyan Islands;
• the rest of mainland Cagayan;
• Ilocos Norte;
• Ilocos Sur;
• Apayao;
• Abra;
• Kalinga;
• Mountain Province;
• Ifugao;
• the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod);
• Isabela;
• Nueva Vizcaya;
• Quirino; and
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora).

Marce was located at 7 a.m. at 335 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving westward slowly.

The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

“MARCE will make landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan from Thursday afternoon to Friday (8 November) early morning,” PAGASA said.

“MARCE is expected to continue intensifying and may reach its peak intensity today before it makes landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or Cagayan tomorrow,” it added.

The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday evening, according to PAGASA.

Storm surge

PAGASA warned of possible “moderate to high risk of life-threatening” storm surge in portions of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.

“There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge reaching 2.0 to 3.0 m above normal tide levels in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur,” it said.

Rains

Heavy to intense rains are expected over Cagayan while moderate to heavy rains are forecast for  Batanes, Isabela and Aurora on Wednesday, according to PAGASA.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in areas with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA said.

Winds

Minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds may be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 2, according to PAGASA.

“The highest Wind Signal which may be hoisted during the occurrence of MARCE is Wind Signal No. 4,” PAGASA said.

Due to northeasterly wind flow, strong to gale-force gusts are expected over Ilocos Region, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes on Wednesday.

Waves

A gale warning is raised over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon., PAGASA said.

Very rough or high seas (from 4.5 to 8.0 meters) are expected in the following coastal waters:

• Up to 8.0 m: The seaboard of northeastern mainland Cagayan and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands
• Up to 7.0 m: The remaining seaboards of Cagayan and Babuyan Islands
• Up to 6.0 m: The northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte; the seaboard of northeastern Isabela
• Up to 5.5 m: The remaining seaboard of Ilocos Norte; the seaboards of Ilocos Sur; the western seaboard of Pangasinan; the remaining seaboard of Isabela
• Up to 4.5 m: The remaining seaboard of Ilocos Region; the seaboard of northern Aurora

“Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside,” PAGASA said.

Rough seas (from 3.0 to 4.0 meters ) may be encountered in the following areas:

• Up to 4.0 m: The seaboard of northern Zambales
• Up to 3.5 m: The northern and eastern seaboard of Polillo Islands; the seaboard of Camarines Norte; the northern seaboard of Catanduanes
• Up to 3.0 m: The northern seaboards of Camarines Sur; the eastern seaboard of Catanduanes; the remaining seaboard of Zambales

“Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels,” PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, moderate seas (from 2.0 to 2.5 meters) may be experienced over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 2.5 m: The eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar; the western seaboard of Bataan and Lubang Islands; the seaboard of Kalayaan Islands
• Up to 2.0 m: The western seaboards of Palawan including Calamian Islands; the eastern seaboard of Camarines Sur, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.

“Mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions,” PAGASA said.

Evacuations, classes

Marce brought heavy rains in parts of Luzon as it got closer to Philippine landmass on Wednesday morning.

Floods were reported in Quezon and Rizal provinces.

Residents in flood-prone areas in Batanes and Isabela were evacuated.

Classes for Wednesday, November 6, 2024, meanwhile have been suspended in some areas due to inclement weather brought about by Marce. —KG, GMA Integrated News