Marce intensifies, nears Cagayan; Signal No. 4 up over 3 areas

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 has been hoisted over three areas in Luzon as Typhoon Marce intensified and was "dangerously approaching" northeastern Cagayan on Thursday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas were placed under TCWS No. 4:

• the northern portion of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Lal-Lo, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Gattaran, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Lasam) including Babuyan Islands
• the northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Flora, Calanasan, Pudtol)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, Vintar, Dumalneg, Adams, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Burgos)

TCWS No. 3 is in effect in the following areas:

• Batanes
• the rest of Cagayan
• the rest of Apayao
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Danglas, Lagayan, Lacub, San Juan, La Paz, Bangued)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo)

TCWS No. 2 is also raised over the following areas:

• the northern and central portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Divilacan, Tumauini, Maconacon, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Palanan, Ilagan City, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Quirino, San Mariano, Gamu, Roxas, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Benito Soliven, Luna, Aurora, San Manuel, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Cabatuan)
• the rest of Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• the northern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Banaue, Hungduan)
• the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan)
• the rest of Ilocos Sur
• the northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar, Balaoan, Luna, Santol)

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

• the rest of La Union
• Pangasinan
• the rest of Ifugao
• the rest of Benguet
• the rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
• the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan)
• the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria)

Marce was located 115 kms east of Aparri, Cagayan moving west northwestward at 10 kph with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.

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

"Landfall at or near peak intensity is expected," it added.

PAGASA noted that regardless of landfall area, potentially life-threatening conditions due to typhoon-force winds, storm surge inundation, and torrential rainfall are expected in the Babuyan Islands and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao.

"After passing over the northern portion of Northern Luzon, [Marce] will continue moving generally westward and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region tomorrow afternoon or evening," PAGASA said.

Storm surge 

PAGASA warned that there was a "high risk of life-threatening storm surge" in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union.

"There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak surge heights exceeding 3.0 m in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union," PAGASA said.

From Thursday noon to Friday noon, intense to torrential rains are expected over Cagayan and Apayao; heavy to intense rains over Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, and Abra; while moderate to heavy rains over La Union, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Benguet, and Ifugao.

"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.

"The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property," it added.

Winds

Areas under TCWS No. 4 should brace for significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds, according to PAGASA.

Due to gale-force winds, TCWS No. 3 areas may encounter moderate to significant impacts while TCWS No. 2 areas may experience minor to moderate impacts.

Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are expected in areas under TCWS No. 1.

Due to the northeasterly wind flow and the periphery of Marce, strong to gale-force gusts may be experienced in Zambales, Bataan, and Polillo Islands on Thursday.

Waves

Meanwhile, a gale warning has been raised over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, according to PAGASA.

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

• Up to 12.0 m: The seaboard of Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte; the northern seaboards of mainland Cagayan
• Up to 8.0 m: The remaining seaboard of Cagayan
• Up to 7.0 m: The seaboards of Batanes and northern Ilocos Sur.
• Up to 6.0 m: The remaining seaboard of Ilocos Sur; the seaboard of Isabela.
• Up to 5.0 m: The remaining seaboard of Ilocos Region
• Up to 4.5 m: The seaboards of northern Zambales and 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 experienced in the following areas:

• Up to 4.0 m: The seaboard of Kalayaan Islands
• Up to 3.5 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; the seaboards of Camarines Norte; the northern seaboards of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur; the remaining seaboard of Zambales.
• Up to 3.0 m: The eastern seaboard of Catanduanes; the seaboard of northern Quezon; the remaining seaboard of Aurora; the western seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Islands, mainland Palawan, and Calamian 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) are expected over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 2.5 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; the eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar.
• Up to 2.0 m: The western seaboards of Occidental Mindoro; the eastern seaboard of Camarines Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur

"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. — VDV, GMA Integrated News