Pepito may make landfall over Catanduanes; Signal No. 3 up over 6 areas

Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-Yi), which is projected to reach super typhoon category, is expected to make landfall over Catanduanes tonight or Sunday, November 17, morning.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said that Pepito “is forecast to move generally west northwestward within the next three days before turning generally westward to west southwestward from Monday (November 18) afternoon to Thursday (November 20) early morning.”

With this direction, PAGASA said the weather disturbance is “more likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes tonight or tomorrow (November 17) early morning.”

Pepito was seen to intensify on Saturday, November 16, and may reach super typhoon category within the next hours prior to its landfall tonight or tomorrow early morning.

The state weather bureau added that a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon during the same time frame, or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora tomorrow afternoon or evening “remains not ruled out.”

PAGASA said that regardless of the landfall point, Pepito will still more likely move generally west northwestward over the weekend and pass over or near the landmass of Bicol Region, Quezon, Central Luzon provinces, and the provinces of Benguet, La Union, and Pangasinan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow evening or Monday morning.

The bureau added that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surges may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.

"Although a slight weakening may occur after its initial passage over land, much of the weakening will occur tomorrow as Pepito passes over the landmass of Central Luzon," PAGASA said.

"Nevertheless, it will traverse the country as a typhoon and will likely be downgraded into a severe tropical storm once it is over the West Philippine Sea on Monday," it added.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was raised over these six areas:

Luzon

• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay Santo Domingo, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Tiwi, Malinao)
• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, San Jose, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, Siruma)
• the easternmost portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz)

Visayas

• The eastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan)
• the northernmost portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad)

The said areas will have wind speeds of 89 to 117 kph in 18 hours which pose moderate to significant threat to life and property.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 2 was hoisted over the following:

Luzon

• The rest of Camarines Sur
• the rest of Albay
• the rest of Sorsogon
• Ticao Island
• Camarines Norte
• the northeastern portion of Quezon (Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan)
• Pollilo Islands

Visayas

• The northern portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan)
• the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan)
• the rest of Northern Samar

Areas under TCWS No. 2 will feel gale-force winds with speeds of 62 to 88 kph in 24 hours which may pose minor to moderate threat to life and property.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 was placed in the following areas:

Luzon

• The rest of Masbate including Burias Island
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• the rest of Quezon
• Laguna
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Batangas
• Metro Manila
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Isabela
• mainland Cagayan
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Ilocos Sur
• Ilocos Norte
• Abra
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet

Visayas

• The rest of Eastern Samar
• the rest of Samar, Biliran
• the northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo, Abuyog, Javier, City of Baybay, Mahaplag)
• the northeastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago)
• the northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
• the northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles)

Mindanao

• The northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon)

Areas under TCWS No. 1 may experience strong winds with speeds of 39 to 61 kph in 36 hours, which may pose minimal to minor threats to life and property, according to PAGASA.

"The highest Wind Signal which may be hoisted during the occurrence of PEPITO is Wind Signal No. 5," the weather bureau said.

Location

At 7 a.m. on Saturday, the center of the eye of Pepito. was estimated to be at 235 kms east of Catarman, Northern Samar.

Pepito has a maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 215 kph, and central pressure of 940 hPa.

It was moving northwestward at 25 kph.

Storm surge

“There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 m in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Bicol Region, Marinduque, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Cavite, Batangas, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Isabela, and Ilocos Region,” PAGASA said.

The bureau said a Gale Warning is hoisted over the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the eastern seabooad of Visayas.

24-Hour Sea Condition Outlook

PAGASA said that up to very rough, high, or very high seas over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 14.0 m: The seaboard of Catanduanes
• Up to 12.0 m: The northern seaboard of Camarines Sur
• Up to 9.0 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; the seaboard of Camarines Norte
• Up to 7.0 m: The eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar
• Up to 5.5 m: The remaining seaboards of Camarines Sur
• Up to 4.5 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; the seaboards of Aurora; the remaining seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar; the seaboards of Burias and Ticao Islands

“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,” it said.

Up to rough seas over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 4.0 m: The seaboards of Dinagat Islands and northern Quezon.
• Up to 3.5 m: The seaboards of Isabela and Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands; the remaining seaboards of Polillo Islands and Quezon, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas
• Up to 3.0 m: The eastern seaboards of Cagayan and Babuyan Islands; the seaboard of Surigao del Sur; the seaboards of Marinduque, Romblon, and northern Cebu

“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.

Up to moderate seas over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 2.5 m: The seaboards of Batanes and Davao Oriental
• Up to 2.0 m: The seaboards of Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, Davao del Sur, and Ilocos Region

"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," it said.

The state weather bureau said that the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property.

“Persons living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards are advised to follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. For heavy rainfall warnings, thunderstorm/rainfall advisories, and other severe weather information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your local PAGASA Regional Services Division,” it said. — KG/VDV, GMA Integrated News