Ursula maintains strength, brings ‘destructive winds, intense rain’ to Calamian Islands —PAGASA

Typhoon Ursula is maintaining its strength and bringing "destructive winds and intense rainfall" to the Calamian Islands in Palawan as it continues its west-northwest track, PAGASA said Wednesday evening.

In its 8 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the state weather bureau said that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) in Capiz and the rest of Antique and Aklan have been lifted, but remain hoisted over the following areas:

TCWS #3 (121-170 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 18 hours)

• Southern Occidental Mindoro (Calintaan, Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay, Sablayan)
• Calamian Islands (Busuanga, Coron, Culion)

TCWS #2 (61-120 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 24 hours)

• Oriental Mindoro
• the rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
• extreme northern portion of mainland Palawan (Linapacan)
• western portion of Antique (Caluya)

TCWS #1 (30-60 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours)

• Batangas
• Romblon
• Marinduque
• Bataan
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Cuyo Islands
• the rest of northern mainland Palawan (Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli)
• southern portion of Quezon (Sampaloc, Lucban, Tayabas, Lucena, Dolores, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, San Antonio, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan)
• northern Antique (Libertad, Pandan)
• northwestern portion of Aklan (Malay, Nabas, Buruanga, Ibajay)

As of Wednesday evening, one fatality has been recorded: a possible victim of electrocution in Abuyog, Leyte.

Some airlines have also cancelled several flights due to the weather. 

A yellow rainfall warning was raised by PAGASA over Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, and Bataan, while it said that Zambales and Bulacan may experience light to moderate rain.

At 7 p.m., Ursula was last estimated at 75 kilometers west northwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro with maximum sustained winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

Ursula maintains its strength while moving west northwest over Mindoro Strait at 20 kph.

The weather bureau advised residents of affected areas to take precautionary measures against flooding and rain-induced landslides.

Heavy rainfall warning

At 8 p.m. on Wednesday, PAGASA also raised a red warning level over Occidental Mindoro due to expected serious flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

Meanwhile, an orange warning level was raised over Palawan (Coron, Busuanga, Culion, Linapacan) due to flooding threatening low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

A yellow warning level was also raised over Cuyo, Magsaysay, Agutaya in Palawan due to possible flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

Heavy rainfall outlook

Until Wednesday night, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, and Occidental Mindoro will experience "occasional to frequent heavy with intermittent intense rains," PAGASA said, while Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, CALABARZON, Marinduque, southern Aurora, and northern portion of mainland Palawan will see light to moderate rains with intermittent heavy rain.

Sea travel is risky in areas where TCWS have been declared, with a storm surge of 1.0 to 2.0 meters possible in several coastal areas in Occidental Mindoro and the Calamian Islands. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News