Signal No. 2 remains over NCR, 12 other areas as Jolina heads towards Cavite

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 remains raised over Metro Manila and several areas as severe tropical storm Jolina (international name: Conson) heads towards Cavite, PAGASA announced Wednesday afternoon.

In its 2 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather agency said TCWS No. 2 has been raised over the following areas:

• the northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Pola, Socorro, Victoria, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan);
• the northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Sablayan) including Lubang Islands;
• the central portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Pagbilao);
• Batangas;
• Cavite;
• Laguna;
• Rizal;
• Metro Manila;
• the southern portion of Bulacan (Pandi, Bulacan, Marilao, Calumpit, Norzagaray, Plaridel, Santa Maria, Balagtas, Bocaue, Bustos, City of Malolos, Angat, Obando, City of San Jose del Monte, Pulilan, City of Meycauayan, Hagonoy, Paombong, Guiguinto, San Rafael, Baliuag);
• Pampanga;
• Bataan;
• Zambales; and
• Tarlac

PAGASA warned that damaging gale-force to storm-force winds may prevail in areas under TCWS No. 2, which may bring generally light to moderate damage to structures and vegetation.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 has been hoisted over the following:

• Marinduque;
• La Union;
• the southern portion of Benguet (Sablan, Tublay, Bokod, La Trinidad, Baguio City, Itogon, Tuba, Kapangan, Atok);
• the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Aritao, Santa Fe, Kayapa);
• the southern portion of Aurora (Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis, Dingalan);
• Pangasinan;
• Nueva Ecija;
• the rest of Bulacan;
• the northern and southern portions of Quezon (Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Plaridel, Pitogo, Macalelon, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands;
• the rest of Oriental Mindoro; and
• the rest of Occidental Mindoro

It warned against strong winds with occasional gusts that may result in very light damage to structure and vegetation.

As of 1 p.m., the center of Jolina was estimated in the vicinity of San Nicolas, Batangas with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

It is moving northwestward at 15 kph.

Jolina is expected to make another landfall in the vicinity of the Bataan Peninsula.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

Hazards affecting land, coastal areas

According to PAGASA, heavy to intense rains — at times torrential — are expected over Metro Manila, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains may prevail over Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Romblon, Marinduque, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.

Light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains may also be experienced over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley.

“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are highly likely especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” it said.

Meanwhile, rough to very rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No 2. 

“Sea travel is risky for all types of seacrafts over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor,” PAGASA said.

Moderate to rough seas will also be experienced over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1 and the remaining seaboards of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

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

Effects

Twelve fishermen in Catbalogan City were reported missing amid the onslaught of Jolina, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said search and rescue operations are ongoing for the missing fishers.

Later in the day, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said the 12 were rescued although five others remained missing in Easern Visayas. 

Timbal also said 1,987 families or 8,583 people have been evacuated from their homes to stay temporarily at 46 evacuation centers in the Bicol, Western Visayas, and Easter Visayas regions.

Around 543 families are staying in the houses of their relatives and friends.

At least 3,230 passengers were reported stranded in ports in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas, the NDDRMC said.

Classes and flights were canceled due to the bad weather caused by Jolina.

Meanwhile, the Ipo, Ambuklao and Binga dams released water to avoid reaching their respective spilling levels.

PAGASA is also monitoring Typhoon Kiko (international name: Chanthu) located 1,120 km east of Central Luzon as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

The weather bureau said TCWS could be raised over several provinces in Northern Luzon, and higher wind signal levels over Extreme Northern Luzon as Kiko slightly intensified while moving west southwestward over the Philippine Sea.

The next weather bulletin for Jolina and Kiko will be issued at 5 p.m. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KG/RSJ, GMA News