More areas in Luzon, Visayas under Signal No. 1 as Paeng keeps strength

More areas in Luzon and Visayas are now under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Storm Paeng has maintained its strength while slowly moving southwestward, PAGASA said on Thursday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said Signal No. 1 was raised over:

Luzon

• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Saglay, San Jose, Tigaon, Ocampo, Iriga City, Buhi, Nabua, Bato, Balatan, Bula, Baao, Pili, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Naga City, Milaor, Minalabac, San Fernando, Gainza, Camaligan, Canaman)
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island

Visayas

• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• the northern portion of Leyte (San Isidro, Calubian, Tabango, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo)

These areas have strong winds prevailing or expected within 36 hours, which may cause a minimal to minor threat to life and property, PAGASA said.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Paeng was located 510 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

It had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

PAGASA said Paeng “may pass close to Catanduanes on Saturday and a landfall scenario is possible on Sunday in the eastern coast of Aurora or Quezon.”
 
“Considering the southward shift in the forecast track, a possible landfall in the eastern portion of [the] Bicol Region is not ruled out at this time,” it added.
 
Paeng is forecast to reach the typhoon category on Saturday. 

From Friday early morning through evening, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are likely over the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

Mimaropa, BARMM, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Quezon, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, and the rest of Visayas may experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

From Friday evening through Saturday, heavy to torrential rains are possible over the Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Marinduque, and Quezon.

Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Aurora, Bulacan, Mindoro Provinces, Romblon, the eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela, and the rest of Eastern Visayas and Calabarzon will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are likewise possible over Cordillera Administrative Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, and the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa.

Due to the shear line and the trough of Paeng, heavy rains are possible over Visayas, most of Southern Luzon, and the northern portion of Mindanao.

PAGASA said the highest wind signal that will likely be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 4, in anticipation of typhoon-force conditions associated with Paeng.

The surge of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) will also bring strong winds with gusts reaching gale-force strength over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Quezon, Bicol Region, Marinduque, Romblon, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte in the next 24 hours.

There is minimal to moderate risk of storm surge of up to two meters in height which may cause flooding in the low-lying coastal areas of Catanduanes and in some coastal areas of Camarines Sur, PAGASA added.

A marine gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas under the influence of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon.

Moreover, the combined effects of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon and the approaching tropical cyclone may also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.5 meters) over the eastern seaboard of Mindanao in the next 24 hours.

"These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions," PAGASA said. — VBL, GMA News