Marce 'weakens further,' Signal No. 3 still raised in 5 areas

Typhoon Marce weakened further on Friday morning but Signal No. 3 remains hoisted in some areas in Luzon, according to the latest weather bulletin of PAGASA.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA placed the following storm warnings in affected areas: 

• Ilocos Norte
• the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira)
• the northwestern portion of Apayao (Calanasan)
• the northern and western portions of Abra (San Juan, La Paz, Bangued, Langiden, San Quintin, Pidigan, Lagangilang, Dolores, Tayum, Lagayan, Tineg, Danglas)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Santo Domingo, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Bantay, San Ildefonso, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa, Magsingal, San Juan, Sinait, Cabugao)

Signal No. 2

• the western portions of Babuyan Islands (Fuga Is., Dalupiri Is., Calayan Is.)
• the northern and western portions of mainland Cagayan (Tuao, Solana, Alcala, Amulung, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Lasam, Allacapan, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona)
• the rest of Apayao
• the rest of Abra
• the northern and western portions of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Lubuagan, Pasil)
• the central portions of Ilocos Sur (Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Burgos, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, City of Candon, Salcedo, Galimuyod, Santa Lucia, Gregorio del Pilar, Quirino, Sigay, Suyo, Santa Cruz, Tagudin, Narvacan, Nagbukel)

Signal No. 1

• Batanes
• the rest of Babuyan Islands
• the rest of mainland Cagayan
• the northern and western portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Santa Maria, Quezon, Ramon, Naguilian, Roxas, Luna, Delfin Albano, City of Cauayan, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Tumauini, Cabagan, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Quirino, Gamu, San Isidro, Mallig, Cordon, Maconacon, Burgos)
• the northern and western portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Bayombong, Solano, Quezon, Bambang, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Aritao)
• the northwestern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Saguday)
• the rest of Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• the rest of Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• the northern and central portions of Pangasinan (Bani, Bolinao, Anda, City of Alaminos, Agno, Sual, Labrador, Burgos, Mabini, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Pozorrubio, Sison, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug, Santa Maria, Binalonan, Asingan, Laoac, Manaoag, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, Calasiao, City of Urdaneta, Basista, Villasis, Malasiqui, Urbiztondo, Aguilar, Santo Tomas, San Carlos City, Bugallon, Infanta, Dasol)

Marce was last spotted 100 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte moving west southwestward 15 at kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

“MARCE will continue moving generally westward and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region this afternoon or evening,” PAGASA said.

“MARCE is forecast to continue to weaken for the next days due to the possible dry air intrusion from the prevailing northeasterly wind flow. Nevertheless, it will remain as a typhoon throughout its passage within the PAR region,” it added.

Storm surge 

PAGASA said there is a “high risk of life-threatening storm surge” in 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 Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union,” PAGASA said.

Rains

Heavy to intense rains are expected over Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur on Friday, according to PAGASA.

“Numerous flooding events are likely, especially in areas that are urbanized, low lying, or near rivers. Landslide likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas,” PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains may be experienced in La Union, Kalinga, Apayao, and Abra.

“Localized flooding is possible mainly in areas that are urbanized, low lying, or near rivers. Landslide is possible in highly susceptible areas,” PAGASA said.

Winds

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

Areas under TCWS No. 1 may experience minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.

Due to the northeasterly wind flow and the periphery of Marce, strong to gale-force gusts will affect Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and Ilocos Region on Friday.

Waves

A Gale Warning is raised over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, according to PAGASA.

Very rough seas (4.5 to 6.0 meters) are expected over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 6.0 m: The seaboards of Ilocos Region
• Up to 5.0 m: The western seaboard of Babuyan Islands
• Up to 4.5 m: The western seaboard of Batanes

“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 (3.0 to 4.0 meters) may be encountered in the following areas:

• Up to 4.0 m: The northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; the remaining seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands
• Up to 3.5 m: The seaboard of Zambales and Kalayaan Islands; the remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan
• Up to 3.0 m: The eastern seaboard of Isabela

“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 areas:

• Up to 2.5 m: The western seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Island, and mainland Palawan; the northeastern seaboard of Aurora; the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes
• Up to 2.0 m: The remaining seaboards of Aurora; the northern and eastern seaboards of Quezon including Polillo Islands; the western seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Batangas; the northern seaboards of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar; the eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, 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.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News