Signal No. 3 in 4 areas as Typhoon Pepito continues to weaken over sea

Typhoon Pepito continues to weaken as it accelerates over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said early Monday.

In its 2 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the state weather bureau said that the center of Pepito was estimated at 105 km west-southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 185 km/h, and central pressure of 955 hPa. It is  moving northwest at 30 km/h  with strong to typhoon-force winds extending up to 250 km from the center.

Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over the following areas:

• Ilocos Sur,
• the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Caba, Santol, Bauang, City of San Fernando, San Juan, Bagulin, Aringay, Bangar, San Gabriel, Burgos, Naguilian, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Balaoan),
• the northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda), and
• the southwestern portion of Abra (Tubo, Luba, Pilar, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Pidigan, Langiden, San Quintin, Bangued, Manabo, Boliney, Peñarrubia, Bucloc, Sallapadan, Bucay)

Signal No. 2 is in effect over:

• Ilocos Norte,
• the rest of La Union,
• the rest of Pangasinan,
• the rest of Abra,
• the western portion of Kalinga (Tinglayan, Tanudan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Balbalan),
• the western portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Barlig, Bontoc, Sabangan, Sadanga, Besao, Sagada, Tadian, Bauko),
• the western portion of Ifugao (Hingyon, Mayoyao, Lagawe, Banaue, Hungduan, Lamut, Kiangan, Tinoc, Asipulo), Benguet, and
• the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria)

Signal No. 1 is over:

• Apayao,
• the rest of Kalinga,
• the rest of Mountain Province,
• the rest of Ifugao,
• the western portion of Cagayan (Lasam, Santo Niño, Amulung, Solana, Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Iguig, Alcala, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira),
• the western portion of Isabela (Cordon, City of Santiago, San Isidro, Ramon, San Mateo, Alicia, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Aurora, San Manuel, Quirino, Roxas, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Santa Maria, Gamu, Cabagan),
• Nueva Vizcaya,
• the northwestern portion of Quirino (Aglipay, Cabarroguis, Saguday, Diffun),
• the northern and western portions of Nueva Ecija (Cabiao, San Isidro, Bongabon, Laur, Palayan City, San Leonardo, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Jaen, San Antonio, Cuyapo, Talavera, Santo Domingo, Rizal, Zaragoza, Llanera, Guimba, Aliaga, Pantabangan, Science City of Muñoz, General Mamerto Natividad, Carranglan, Quezon, San Jose City, Lupao, Nampicuan, Talugtug, Licab),
• Tarlac,
• the northern and western portions of Pampanga (Mexico, Porac, Angeles City, Santa Rita, Santa Ana, Guagua, Mabalacat City, Arayat, Santo Tomas, City of San Fernando, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Magalang), and
• the rest of Zambales

Track

PAGASA forecasts that Pepito will continue to weaken as it moves generally west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea, until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Monday morning or noon.

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