Typhoon Lando intensifies, Signal 3 up over 3 Luzon areas

Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) intensified as Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 was raised over northern Aurora, Quirino, and Isabela, weather service PAGASA reported in a Friday-11 p.m. bulletin.

At 10 p.m., Lando was 410 kms east of Baler, Aurora, with maximum winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 185 kph. Estimated rainfall amount within the typhoon's 600 km diameter was from heavy to intense.

Fisherfolk were warned against sailing over the seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboards of the Visayas due to Lando's effects.

Meanwhile, the three Luzon areas under Signal No. 3 will experience open sea wave heights of 14 meters and a storm surge of up to 2 meters.

Signal No. 2 was also up over:

• the rest of Aurora,
• Polillo Island,
• Nueva Vizcaya,
• Nueva Ecija,
• La Union,
• Benguet,
• Ifugao,
• Mt. Province,
• Ilocos Sur,
• Ilocos Norte,
• Abra,
• Apayao,
• Kalinga, and
• Cagayan including Babuyan and Calayan Islands.

These areas will experienced open sea wave heights of 4.1 to 14.0 meters, with a  meter high storm surge possible along coastal areas.

Signal 1 was up over:

• the Batanes,
• Pangasinan,
• Bulacan,
• Pampanga,
• Tarlac,
• Zambales,
• Bataan,
• Rizal,
• Batangas,
• Laguna,
• Quezon,
• Cavite,
• Albay,
• Camarines Norte,
• Camarines Sur,
• Catanduanes, and
• Metro Manila.

Open sea wave heights along these areas will be from 1.25 to 4.0 meters.

And with Lando moving westwards at 15 kph, the typhoon was expected to make landfall over the Isabela-Aurora either Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

According to PAGASA's projections, Lando will be:

• in the vicinity of Maddela Quirino Saturday evening,
• in the vicinity of Carasi, Ilocos, Norte Sunday evening
• 165 kms northwest of Calayan, CagayanMonday evening,
• 85 kms west of Itbayat, Batanes Tuesday evening, and
• 165 kms north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes Wednesday evening.

Aquino's warning

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III warned the public on Friday that intense rain from Lando in some parts of the country could last from six to 12 hours.

"Kakaiba ang bagyong ito, sa sobrang bagal ng pag-usad parang nakaprimis na rin," Aquino said.

Citing PAGASA, Aquino said Lando couldn't move on its path freely because it was being pulled by another weather disturbance Champi.

"Ang resulta: mapapabagal ang pagtahak ni Lando palabas ng ating bansa. Sa estimasyon nga ng PAGASA, puwedeng umabot ng 6 hanggang 12 oras ang matinding pagbuhos ng ulan," Aquino said.

Aquino also warned that Lando's winds could increase to 185 kph, which meant Signal No. 4 could be raised in the affected areas. — DVM, GMA News