PAGASA: Typhoon Lawin intensifies further, moves closer to Samar

Typhoon Lawin (Jelawat) intensified further and moved closer to the Samar area in Eastern Visayas Sunday afternoon, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA, in its 5 p.m. advisory, said Lawin is also moving north-northwest at seven kilometers per hour. As of 4 p.m., it said Typhoon Lawin was estimated at 330 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up 170 kph. It said Lawin is expected to be 290 km east of Virac, Catanduanes Monday afternoon. By Tuesday afternoon, it is expected to be 310 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes. By Wednesday afternoon it is expected to be 350 km East of Tuguegarao City. The Samar provinces remained under Storm Signal No. 1 as of Sunday afternoon, PAGASA said. "Samar provinces will experience rains and gusty winds. Palawan, Bicol Region, Mindanao and the rest of Visayas will have cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides," PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. It added Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms. PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the north to northwest will prevail over Bicol and Eastern Visayas and coming from the west to southwest over the rest of Visayas and Mindanao. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Light to moderate winds coming from the northeast to northwest over the rest of the Luzon with slight to moderate seas. Flash floods, landslides     "Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides," PAGASA said. It added Lawin may bring rainfall of 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 600-km diameter. Also, PAGASA said Lawin may enhance the southwest monsoon that may bring moderate to heavy rain over Western Visayas and Mindanao. "Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao due to big waves generated by Typhoon Lawin," PAGASA said. — BM, GMA News