Signal No. 4 still up over Batanes, Babuyan Islands; Kiko makes landfall

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 remained hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands on Saturday morning as Typhoon Kiko (international name: Chanthu) make landfall over Ivana in Batanes, PAGASA said.

The weather bureau said Kiko made landfall over Ivana at 8:30 a.m.

At 8:30 AM today, Typhoon #KikoPH made landfall over Ivana, Batanes. pic.twitter.com/aC2nfFYt53

— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) September 11, 2021

The weather bureau said the areas under TCWS No. 4 have very destructive typhoon-force winds with strength of 171 to 220 km/h prevailing or expected within 12 hours. PAGASA warned of generally heavy to very heavy damage to structures and vegetation.

TCWS No. 3 meanwhile was raised over the northwestern portion of Babuyan Islands, particularly Panuitan Island and Calayan Island, saying these areas will have destructive typhoon-force winds (up to 170 km/h) prevailing or expected within 18 hours. Damage to structures and vegetation may be generally moderate to heavy.

TCWS No. 2 was up over the rest of Babuyan Islands as damaging gale-force to storm-force winds prevailing or expected within 24 hours. Damage to structure and vegetation may be light to moderate.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 has been raised over:

• Mainland Cagayan;
• Apayao; and
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Adams, Dumalneg, Bangui, Vintar, Carasi, Nueva Era, Piddig, Solsona, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Pagudpud).

Areas under TCWS No. 1 will have strong breeze to near gale-strength winds. Damage to structure and vegetation may be very light.

All other TCWS previously raised were lifted.

At 7 a.m., the eye of Kiko was located over the coastal waters of Sabtang, Batanes.

Kiko has maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 265 km/h, and central pressure of 920 hPa.

The typhoon is moving north northwestward at 15 km/h.

From its center, strong winds or higher than that category are extending outwards up to 250 km.

Rainfall

Batanes and Babuyan Islands will have heavy to intense rainfall in the next 24 hours.

Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, and Kalinga meanwhile will likely have moderate to at heavy, and at times intense, rains.

Flooding (scattered to widespread including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas prone to these hazards, PAGASA said.

The weather bureau said Kiko will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Metro Manila, the rest of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region, and the western sections of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon will thus have monsoon rains in the next 24 hours.

Winds

"In the next 24 hours, the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will also bring occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength over the coastal and upland/mountain areas of Luzon that are not under wind signal," PAGASA said.

Storm surge, coastal waters

Meanwhile, storm surges reaching up to 3 meters in height may occur in the next 24 hours.

PAGASA said flooding may also occur in low-lying coastal areas in Batanes and northeast Cagayan and Babuyan Islands due to rising sea water and high waves.

Coastal waters will be rough to phenomenal (up to 15 meters) in the next 24 hours over the seaboards where TCWS are in effect.

"Sea travel is risky for all types of sea vessels. Mariners are advised to remain in port or take shelter in port until winds and waves subside," PAGASA said.

Areas not under TCWS over the eastern seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon meanwhile will have moderate to rough seas with waves up to 3.5 meters. Travel by sea remains risky.

A gale warning was also raised or the seaboards of Zambales and Bataan, and the western seaboards of Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands.

Track

The typhoon is expected to maintain its strength in the next 12 hours, then start to weaken by Saturday afternoon or on Sunday.

Kiko "will move generally northward or north northeastward beginning tomorrow and pass over the sea east of Taiwan (without ruling out the possibility of landfall)," PAGASA said.

The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Once outside PAR, Kiko will head northward or north northeastward over the East China Sea.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to take the necessary precautions.

The next weather bulletin will be issued at 11 a.m. —KG, GMA News