Aghon now a severe tropical storm; Signal 3 raised over Quezon

Aghon intensified into a severe tropical storm on Sunday afternoon, according to PAGASA

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, state meteorologists said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was raised over the eastern portion of Quezon province.

Moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds were possible within the area where Signal 3 was hoisted. Furthermore, heavy rainfall of over 200 mm was expected over Quezon.

Meanwhile, TCWS Signal No. 2 was hoisted over: 

• Aurora, 
• the northern and central portions of Quezon, 
• Laguna, 
• the eastern portion of Batangas, 
• the eastern and central portions of Rizal, and 
• the northern portion of Camarines Norte.

The following areas are under TCWS No. 1:

• the eastern portion of Isabela
• the eastern portion of Quirino
• the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya
• the eastern and southern portions of Nueva Ecija
• the southern portion of Bataan
• the eastern portion of Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• the rest of Quezon
• the rest of Rizal
• the rest of Batangas
• the northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro
• Marinduque
• the extreme northern portion of Romblon
• the rest of Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur

Areas under TCWS No. 1 can expect strong winds with speeds ranging from 39 to 61 km/h in 36 hours, posing a minimal to minor threat to life and property.

PAGASA said Aghon was moving northwestward and had maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 130 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa.

Coastal Waters

Within the next 24 hours, there is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge over the exposed and low-lying coastal areas of Cagayan, Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Burias Island, PAGASA said.

A gale warning was also raised over the coastal waters of Aurora, Quezon, and Marinduque, the southern coastal waters of Batangas, and the northern coastal waters of Camarines Norte.

Sea travel is thus risky for small seacrafts, including all motorbancas of any type of tonnage in these areas.

Aghon will also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.5 m) over the coastal waters along the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the seaboard of Bicol Region.

Track, intensity

Aghon will continue to move northeastward towards Polillo Islands and the could intensify into a typhoon while over the sea east of Quezon.

From Monday through the remainder of the forecast period, Aghon will also gradually accelerate northeastward while intensifying.

It is forecast to reach the typhoon category by Tuesday afternoon or evening, and may eventually exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.

Four persons, including three minors, were injured in Legazpi, Albay due to Aghon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.

The Office of Civil Defense will also verify reports that one person was killed in Northern Mindanao because of the tropical storm.

Meanwhile, at least 6,000 passengers and 800 rolling cargoes were stranded on Sunday due to Aghon, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

Some flights for Sunday, May 26, were canceled due to the bad weather caused by the storm. — DVM, GMA Integrated News