Signal No. 4 in 7 areas as Pepito weakens over La Union coast

Typhoon Pepito continues to weaken and is now over the coastal waters of La Union and Pangasinan, PAGASA said late Sunday evening.

In its 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the state weather bureau said that as of 10 p.m., the center of Pepito was estimated to be over the coastal waters of San Fernando, La Union, with maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 255 km/h, and central pressure of 950 hPa. It is moving west-northwest at 25 km/h, with strong to typhoon-force winds extending up to 300 km from the center.

Storm signals have been hoisted over several areas across Luzon.

Signal No. 4

• The southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Alilem, Sugpon, Suyo, Santa Cruz, Tagudin, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo, Galimuyod, Cervantes, Sigay),
• La Union,
• the northern portion of Pangasinan (Sison, Tayug, Binalonan, San Manuel, Asingan, San Quintin, Santa Maria, Natividad, San Nicolas, Balungao, Pozorrubio, Laoac, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Manaoag, City of Urdaneta, Rosales, Umingan, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Villasis, Santo Tomas, Dagupan City, Anda, Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Lingayen, Binmaley, Sual, Labrador),
• Benguet,
• the southwestern portion of Ifugao (Tinoc, Asipulo),
• the western portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Bayombong, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Aritao, Bambang, Solano), and
• the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Lupao, Carranglan)

Signal No. 3

• The rest of Ilocos Sur,
• the rest of Pangasinan,
• the southern portion of Abra (Tubo, Luba, Pilar, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Pidigan, Langiden, San Quintin, Bangued, Manabo, Boliney, Peñarrubia, Bucloc, Sallapadan, Bucay),
• the southern portion of Kalinga (Pasil, Tanudan, Lubuagan, Tinglayan),
• Mountain Province,
• the rest of Ifugao,
• the southern portion of Isabela (Ramon, City of Santiago, Cordon, San Agustin, Jones, Echague, San Isidro, San Mateo, Alicia),
• Quirino,
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya,
• the northern portion of Tarlac (Paniqui, La Paz, Moncada, City of Tarlac, Gerona, Pura, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Victoria, Camiling, Ramos, San Manuel, Anao),
• the central portion of Nueva Ecija (Talavera, Santo Domingo, Zaragoza, Guimba, Aliaga, Cabanatuan City, Quezon, Santa Rosa, Nampicuan, Licab, Palayan City, General Mamerto Natividad, Laur, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Science City of Muñoz, Rizal, Llanera, Bongabon, Talugtug, Cuyapo), and
• the central portion of Aurora (Maria Aurora, Dipaculao, Baler, Dinalungan) 

Signal No. 2

• Ilocos Norte,
• the southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao),
• the rest of Abra,
• the rest of Kalinga,
• the southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Tuao, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Piat, Rizal),
• the western, central, and southern portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Aurora, Santa Maria, Quezon, San Mariano, Naguilian, Dinapigue, Roxas, San Guillermo, Luna, Delfin Albano, City of Cauayan, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Cabagan, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Quirino, Gamu, Mallig, Burgos),
• the rest of Aurora,
• Zambales,
• the rest of Tarlac,
• the rest of Nueva Ecija,
• Pampanga, and
• the northern portion of Bulacan (San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, Baliuag, Pulilan, Calumpit)

Signal No. 1

• The rest of mainland Cagayan,
• the rest of Isabela,
• the rest of Apayao,
• Bataan,
• the rest of Bulacan,
• Metro Manila,
• Rizal,
• Cavite,
• Laguna,
• the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Lucban, Sampaloc, Dolores, General Nakar, Real, Mauban) including Polillo Islands, and
• the northern portion of Batangas (Calaca, Lian, Tuy, Balayan, Talisay, Agoncillo, Santo Tomas, Lemery, City of Tanauan, Mataasnakahoy, Balete, Nasugbu, San Nicolas, Laurel, Malvar)

Track

Typhoon Pepito has left the Luzon landmass, but still hovers over the coast of La Union and Pangasinan, PAGASA said.

The typhoon is forecast to continue moving west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning or noon. 

However, "It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone," PAGASA cautioned. It warned of a "high risk" of storm surge within the next 48 hours in low-lying or exposed areas in the Ilocos Region, southeastern mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cavite, and the eastern coast of Quezon, including Polillo Islands.

Walang Pasok, other effects

Several provinces, cities and municipalities across Luzon have declared the suspension of classes on Monday due to Pepito, as well as the suspension of work in government offices except for those involved in health, disaster relief, and other vital services.

Some areas in provinces hard hit by the typhoon have lost power, while some military units are on red alert, ready to render assistance to communities. In San Andres, Catanduanes, police helped a woman deliver a baby boy amid the storm. — BM, GMA Integrated News