New LPA spotted outside PAR as Lawin speeds off towards Cagayan

Typhoon Lawin (Jelawat) accelerated slightly as it continued to move toward the Batanes-Cagayan area in Northern Luzon Wednesday afternoon, even as state weather forecasters are monitoring a new potential cyclone off Mindanao.

 

PAGASA said Lawin was estimated at 410 km east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up 250 kph.

 

"Super typhoon na ito ... baka landfall nito ay malakas," National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council head Benito Ramos warned at a media briefing Wednesday afternoon. Parts of the briefing were aired on dzBB radio.

 

Earlier, PAGASA forecasters had cited the possibility of Lawin making landfall on the northern tip of Cagayan, or cross the Babuyan Channel area.

 

Ramos also warned local officials in Northern Luzon to keep a close eye on the Cagayan River for possible overflowing. PAGASA advisory on Lawin

 

PAGASA's 5 p.m. advisory said Lawin was moving northwest at 13 kph and may be 230 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Thursday afternoon.

 

By Friday afternoon, it is expected to be 260 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. By Saturday afternoon it is expected to be 560 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

 

Under Storm Signal No. 2 are Batanes, Cagayan, Calayan, and Babuyan Islands. Under Storm Signal No. 1 are Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, and Isabela.

 

"Residents living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal #2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this typhoon," PAGASA warned.

 

It added Lawin may bring rainfall of 10 to 25 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 850-km diameter.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas due to big waves generated by Typhoon Lawin and the southwest monsoon," it said.

 

Near Cagayan by Wednesday night

 

PAGASA senior forecaster Robert Sawi said Lawin may get near Cagayan Wednesday night, and nearer to Northeastern Luzon Thursday morning.

 

He said their models indicate Lawin may get near Batanes Friday morning, and move toward the eastern part of Taiwan by Friday evening.

 

By Saturday, he said Lawin may be at the northern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

 

New LPA spotted outside PAR

 

But Sawi said they are expecting another low-pressure area to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this weekend.

 

"May pumoporma sa eastern part of Mindanao. Ito babantayan natin in case papatuloy itong scenario (A low-pressure area is forming east of Mindanao. We are monitoring its progress)," he said.

 

Yellow alert on La Mesa

 

A separate report on dzBB radio said La Mesa Dam in Quezon City was on yellow alert as of 5 p.m., with its water level reaching 79.32 meters, slightly below its spilling level of 80.15 meters. — TJD, GMA News