Signal No. 3 up over 3 areas as Pepito moves over West Philippine Sea

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was raised over three areas early Monday as Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-Yi) moves over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said in its bulletin.

TCWS No. 3 is in effect over:

• the northern and western portions of Ilocos Sur (Gregorio del Pilar, Magsingal, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Burgos, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santiago, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, Sinait, Suyo, Sigay, San Ildefonso, Galimuyod, City of Vigan, San Emilio, Cabugao, Caoayan, San Juan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Narvacan, Salcedo);
• the northwestern portion of La Union (Luna, Bangar, Balaoan, Bacnotan); and
• the western portion of Abra (San Quintin, Langiden, Pidigan, Pilar)

These areas will have storm-force winds with speeds of 89 to 117 km/h in 18 hours which may bring moderate to significant threat to life and property.

TCWS No. 2 meanwhile was raised over:

• Ilocos Norte;
• the rest of Ilocos Sur;
• the rest of La Union;
• Pangasinan;
• the rest of Abra;
• the western portion of Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Sagada, Bauko), Benguet; and
• the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria).

Areas under TCWS No. 2 may have gale-force winds with speeds of 62 to 88 km/h in 24 hours, posing minor to moderate threat to life and property.

TCWS No. 1 on the other hand was hoisted over:

• Apayao;
• Kalinga;
• the rest of Mountain Province;
• Ifugao;
• the western portion of Cagayan (Lasam, Santo Niño, Solana, Enrile, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira);
• Nueva Vizcaya;
• the northern and central portions of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, San Leonardo, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Jaen, 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, San Antonio, Palayan City, Laur);
• Tarlac; and
• the central portion of Zambales (Botolan, Iba, Cabangan, Palauig, Masinloc).

The above-mentioned areas may experience strong winds with speeds of 39 to 61 km/h in 36 hours, with minimal to minor threat to life and property.

Location

At 4 a.m., the center of Pepito was estimated to be located at 145 km west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

It has maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 160 km/h, and central pressure of 965 hPa.

Pepito is moving northwestward over the West Philippine Sea at 30 km/h.

From its center, strong to typhoon-force winds are extending outwards up to 280 km.

Rainfall

Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales, Cagayan, Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Batanes, and Isabela will have moderate to heavy rains measuring 50 to 100 mm on Monday, PAGASA said in its heavy rainfall outlook issued at 5 a.m.

"Forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas. Moreover, impacts in some areas maybe worsened by significant antecedent rainfall," it added.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, and the rest of Central Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the trough of Pepito. Flash floods or landslides may result due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies. During severe thunderstorms, flash floods or landslides may occur.

The rest of the country meanwhile may have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms, with the possibility of flash floods or landslides occurring during severe thunderstorms.

Storm surge

PAGASA said there is a moderate to high risk of storm surge occurring in the next 48 hours in the low-lying or exposed coastal areas of Ilocos Region, Isabela, and Central Luzon.

Coastal waters

The weather bureau raised a gale warning over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon.

PAGASA also said coastal waters will be up to very rough today in the following coastal waters:

• Up to 5.0 m: The seaboards of Batanes
• Up to 4.5 m: The western seaboard of Ilocos Norte; the seaboards of Ilocos Sur and Isabela; the eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan

"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," the weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, up to rough seas are forecast for the following coastal waters:

• Up to 4.0 m: The seaboards of Babuyan Islands; the remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan
• Up to 3.5 m: The seaboards of La Union; the western seaboard of Pangasinan
• Up to 3.0 m: The seaboard of Aurora and northern Zambales

"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.

On the other hand, the following coastal waters will have moderate seas:

• Up to 2.5 m: The seaboard of northern Quezon; the northern and eastern seaboard of Polillo Islands
• Up to 2.0 m: The seaboards of Catanduanes, Bataan, and Lubang Islands; the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon, the northern and eastern seaboards of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar; the remaining seaboard of Zambales

"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.

The rest of the country meanwhile will have slight to moderate coastal waters.

Track, intensity

Pepito is expected to continue moving northwestward on Monday over the West Philippine Sea, then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning or noon.

It will then turn more westward or west southwestward on Tuesday under the influence of an incoming northeasterly wind surge.

Pepito may further weaken as it moves over the West Philippine Sea, then may become a remnant low by Wednesday late evening or Thursday early morning while over the coast of southern China.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to take all necessary measures to protect life and property.

Sunrise was at 5:58 a.m. while sunset will be at 5:24 p.m.

The next weather bulletin will be issued by PAGASA at 11 a.m.

Effects

One person was reported to have died in Daet, Camarines Norte due to the effects of Super Typhoon Pepito, according to its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).

In its situational report on Sunday, Daet MDRRMO said a 76-year old man perished after he was caught in a vehicular accident due to hanging internet cables along Bagabas Road.

Classes have been suspended on Monday, Nov. 18, in some areas due to the bad weather caused by Pepito.

Power went out in parts of Aurora, Isabela and Nueva Ecija as Pepito traversed the Luzon landmass on Sunday.

Thousands of residents were evacuated in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Samar, and Metro Manila, among others.

Many individuals and vessels were also stranded in ports as sea travel was disrupted by Pepito. —KG, GMA Integrated News