Batanes under Signal 3 as Lawin moves closer

Batanes was placed under Storm Signal No. 3 on Thursday morning as Typhoon Lawin (Jelawat) moved closer to Northern Philippines.

 

PAGASA issued a 7 a.m. update to its advisory indicating Lawin was 340 km east of the Calayan Islands as of 6 a.m. Thursday.

 

It said Lawin packed sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gustiness of up 240 kph and continued to move northwest at 13 kph.

 

Batanes was placed under Signal No. 3, meaning winds of 101 to 185 kph may be expected.

 

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

 

Lawin's forecast track

 

PAGASA said Lawin is forecast to be 130 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes by Friday morning, and 200 km east of Taiwan by Saturday morning.

 

By Sunday morning, it said Lawin may be 140 km west of Okinawa, Japan.

 

"Residents living in coastal areas under public storm warning signals are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this typhoon," PAASA said.

 

It added Lawin may bring rainfall of 10 to 25 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 800-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," PAGASA warned.

 

New possible LPA

 

Meanwhile, GMA resident meteorologist said that Weather Central's wind forecast shows a possible development of a circulation west of Luzon on Friday, "which will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon for the next several days even when Lawin is already out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility." — TJD, GMA News