Signal No. 1 in 7 areas due to Pepito; another landfall for Ofel seen

Seven areas in Luzon and in the Visayas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Severe Tropical Storm Pepito (international name: Man-Yi) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday evening, the state weather bureau said. 

Pepito intensified into a severe tropical storm when it entered the PAR at 8 p.m., making it the 15th storm to enter the country this year. 

Signal No. 1 has been hoisted in the following areas: 

Luzon 

• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Presentacion, San Jose, Lagonoy)
• the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Legazpi City, Malinao, Manito, Tiwi)
• the eastern and southern portions of Sorsogon (Juban, City of Sorsogon, Barcelona, Bulusan, Magallanes, Gubat, Santa Magdalena, Casiguran, Bulan, Irosin, Matnog, Prieto Diaz)

Visayas 

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Dolores, Oras)
• the northeastern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan)

Pepito was spotted 945 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas while moving westward at 35 kilometers per hour (km/h). 

It has maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 125 km/h. 

State meteorologists said that Pepito may make a landfall over the eastern coast of Central Luzon on weekend, either on Saturday or Sunday. 

Further, the storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon on Friday and may reach the super typhoon category on Saturday afternoon or evening. 

Ofel

Meanwhile, PAGASA said another landfall is still possible by Typhoon Ofel on Thursday evening as it passes through Babuyan Island.

Signal No. 4 remains hoisted over the northern portion of Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Lal-Lo, Allacapan) including Babuyan Islands.

The areas may see wind of 118 km/h to 184 km/h over the next 12 hours.

According to PAGASA’s 11 p.m. cyclone bulletin, Ofel was last seen over the coastal waters of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h and gustiness of up to 200 km/h.

Ofel is expected to turn north northwestward to northward Friday until Saturday morning.

Tropical cyclone wind signals

The following areas under Signal No. 3 may experience winds of 89 km/h to 117 km/h over the next 18 hours:

• the southern portion of Batanes (Basco, Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan, Sabtang)
• the central and southeastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Lasam, Alcala, Amulung, Iguig, Santo Niño, Rizal, Piat, Peñablanca, Baggao, Gattaran)
• the northern and central portions of Apayao (Flora, Pudtol, Kabugao, Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Adams, Dumalneg, Bangui, Pagudpud, Pasuquin, Burgos, Vintar, Carasi)

The following areas under Signal No. 2 will have winds of 62 km/h to 88 km/h in at least 24 hours:

• the rest of Batanes
• the rest of Cagayan
• the northern portion of Isabela (Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Maconacon, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santo Tomas, Santa Maria)
• the rest of Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga (Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk, Balbalan)
• the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte

The following areas under Signal No. 1 will experience winds of 39 km/h to 61 km/h or intermittent rains within 36 hours:

• the rest of Isabela
• the northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela)
• the rest of Abra
• the rest of Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• the northern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Banaue, Mayoyao, Hingyon, Hungduan, Lagawe, Kiangan, Alfonso Lista)
• the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, San Ildefonso, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Vicente, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa Catalina, Santa, Nagbukel, Narvacan, Gregorio del Pilar, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Cervantes, Burgos, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santiago, Lidlidda, Suyo, Sigay, Galimuyod, Quirino, San Emilio, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Salcedo)
• the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag)

—LDF, GMA Integrated News