PAGASA: 'Pablo' slows down, weakens further over Palawan; may slightly delay exit from PAR

Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) slowed down and weakened slightly as it remained over Palawan after making landfall there, state weather forecasters said before noon Wednesday.

 

PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said a high-pressure area slowed down the typhoon, whose exit from the Philippine Area of Responsibility may be delayed to Friday night.

 

"Imbes na bukas ng umaga sa labas [na] siya ng PAR, ngayon bukas ng gabi," Aurelio said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He said the typhoon made landfall over Roxas City and slowed down from 24 kph to 19 kph.

 

Aurelio also said the cloudy skies over parts of Metro Manila are due to the northeast monsoon and not to Typhoon Pablo.

 

PAGASA said Pablo was estimated at 120 km northeast of Puerto Princesa City, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

 

In its 11 a.m. advisory, it said Pablo was moving northwest at 19 kph and is expected to be 470 km west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

 

By Friday morning, it is expected to be 610 km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

 

Under Storm Signal No. 3 are northern Palawan and the Calamian Group of Islands. The rest of Palawan remained under Signal No. 2.

 

Under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

 

PAGASA said Typhoon Pablo may bring estimated rainfall of 10 to 18 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 400-km diameter.

 

It warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Those in coastal areas under signals 2 and 3 were alerted against big waves or storm surges.

 

Fishing boats and other sea vessels were advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Western Visayas, it added. — RSJ, GMA News