Signal No. 2 up over 7 areas as Rolly moves toward Bicol

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was raised at 8 a.m. on Saturday over seven areas in Luzon as Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) continues to move toward the Bicol Region, PAGASA said.

The areas under TCWS No. 2 are:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• southeastern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Catanauan, Buenavista, Lopez, Guinayangan, Calauag, Tagkawayan)

These areas will have 61-120 km/h winds prevailing or will expect in 24 hours.

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile was raised over the following areas:

Luzon:

• The rest of Masbate including Ticao Island
• the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Cavite
• Batangas
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
• Oriental Mindoro
• Metro Manila
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• Zambales
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Benguet
• Ifugao
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• the southern portion of Isabela (Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, San Mariano, Palanan, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Cordon, Santiago City, Ramon, San Isidro, Angadanan, Alicia, Cauayan City, Cabatuan, San Mateo).

Visayas:

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Samar (Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Nino, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao)
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Taft, Can-Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo), and the northern portion of Biliran (Kawayan, Maripipi)

These areas will have 30-60 km/h winds prevailing or may expect in 36 hours.

PAGASA said it may raise TCWS No. 3 over portions of Bicol Region later on Saturday.

The weather bureau said the highest possible signal it can raise is TCWS No. 4.

Location

At 7 a.m., the eye of Rolly was located at 540 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 265 km/h.

Rolly is moving westward at 20 km/h.

The typhoon is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday morning.

Landfall, track

PAGASA said Rolly's eye is seen to pass very close to Catanduanes early Sunday morning, then over Calaguas Islands and very close to mainland Camarines Provinces on Sunday morning. 

It is expected to be over Polillo Islands and mainland Quezon on Sunday afternoon or early evening.

PAGASA said Rolly making landfall over Catanduanes and Camarines Provinces is not ruled out due to the typhoon's proximity to the Bicol Region based on the forecast track.

The weather bureau said Rolly's inner rainband-eyewall region will bring violent winds and intense rainfall over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and the northern part of Camarines Sur early Sunday morning until afternoon.

These conditions will also be felt in Aurora on Sunday afternoon until evening.

Rolly is expected to exit mainland Luzon mass on Monday morning after it has crossed Central Luzon.

Super typhoon

"Owing to very favorable conditions, there remains a possibility that this typhoon will reach Super Typhoon category over the next 12 hours," PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin.

"However, 'ROLLY' is more likely to be near Super Typhoon strength (185-215 km/h) by time it grazes Bicol Region and makes landfall over Quezon," it added.

The weather bureau said Rolly is forecast to weaken and emerge as a severe tropical storm or typhoon over the West Philippine Sea.

Rainfall

Heavy to intense rains will pour over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Burias Island, CALABARZON, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, and Tarlac late Saturday evening until Sunday.

Moderate to heavy rains meanwhile will be felt in Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar, mainland Cagayan Valley, and the rest of Bicol Region and Central Luzon.

PAGASA warned of flooding, including flash floods, landslides and lahar flows that may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall in areas prone to these hazards.

Winds

Gale- to storm-force winds are to be expected in areas under TCWS No. 2, and strong breeze to gale conditions in areas under TCWS No. 1 as Rolly passes by.

Areas that will be placed under TCWS No. 3 will have destructive typhoon-force winds, while those that may be under TCWS No. 4 may experience destructive typhoon-force winds.

Meanwhile, the northeasterlies will bring strong breeze to near gale conditions over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and the coastal and mountainous areas of Cagayan and Isabela that are not under TCWS No. 1.

Storm surge

PAGASA said there is a moderate to high risk or storm surge of up to 3 meters over the northern coastal areas of Quezon including Polillo Islands and up to 2 meters over the coastal areas of Aurora, Marinduque, Bicol Region, and Northern Samar and the other coastal areas of Quezon in the next 48 hours. 

These may "result in life-threatening and damaging coastal inundation," PAGASA said.

"This storm surge may be accompanied by swells and breaking waves reaching the coast," it warned.

Coastal waters

Rough to phenomenal seas with waves ranging from 2.5 to 15 meters are expected over the seaboards of areas under TCWS.

Meanwhile, rough to very rough seas with waves from 2.5 to 5 meters will be experienced over the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas that are not under TCWS and Caraga.

"Sea travel is risky for all types of seacrafts over these waters, especially those under TCWS," PAGASA said.

In the rest of the country, moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.5 meters) may be expected.

"Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions," PAGASA said.

Atsani

The weather bureau is also monitoring Tropical Depression Atsani which was located 1,600 km east of Visayas at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Atsani has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

The tropical depression is moving west-northwestward at 25 km/h.

Atsani is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday afternoon.

"However, it remains less likely to affect any portion of the country over the next 2 to 3 days. It is likely to re-intensify into a tropical storm in the next 24 hours," PAGASA said.

The weather bureau advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned to take the necessary precautions and await the 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin. —KG, GMA News