Marce intensifies as Signal No. 3 raised in Sta. Ana, Cagayan

Signal No. 3 is raised over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, particularly Santa Ana town, as Typhoon Marce further intensified on Wednesday morning, PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA raised the following Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 

Signal No. 3

• The northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)

Signal No. 2

• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• The northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Gattaran, Baggao, Lasam, Abulug, Camalaniugan, Pamplona, Claveria, Aparri, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung)
• The northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Pudtol, Santa Marcela, Flora, Kabugao)

Signal No. 1:

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

Marce was spotted 305 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan or 315 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan moving westward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph).

The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kkp near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

“MARCE will make landfall and traverse Babuyan Islands or the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao or pass very close to these areas from tomorrow afternoon to Friday (8 November) early morning,” PAGASA said.

“MARCE is expected to continue intensifying and may reach its peak intensity today its passage over the Babuyan Channel. Slight weakening is expected due to possible interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon, although MARCE will remain as a typhoon throughout its passage within the PAR region,” it added.

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,” PAGASA said.

Rains 

Heavy to intense rains are expected over Cagayan while moderate to heavy rains are forecast for Batanes, Isabela and Aurora from Wednesday noon to Thursday noon, 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,” it added.

Winds 

Moderate to significant impacts from gale-force winds may be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 3, while minor to moderate impacts in areas under TCWS No. 2. In areas under TCWS No. 1, minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are expected.

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

Due to the northeasterly wind flow, strong to gale-force gusts are expected over most of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Pangasinan on Monday.

Waves 

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

Very rough, high, or very high seas (from 4.5 to 12.0 meters) may be encountered in the following coastal waters:

• Up to 12.0 m: The eastern seaboard of Babuyan Islands, the northeastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan
• Up to 8.0 m: The seaboard of Batanes; the remaining seaboard of Babuyan Islands; the northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan.
• Up to 7.0 m: The remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan; the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte.
• Up to 6.0 m: The remaining seaboard of Ilocos Norte; the seaboard of Isabela
• Up to 5.5 m: The seaboard of Ilocos Sur
• 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) are expected in the following areas:

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

“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 northern seaboard of Northern Samar; the eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar; the western seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Islands, mainland northern Palawan, and Calamian Islands;
• Up to 2.0 m: The western seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and the rest of mainland Palawan; the eastern seaboard of Camarines Sur and Dinagat Islands

“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, class suspensions

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.

The typhoon is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday evening, according to PAGASA.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News