Uwan nears Catanduanes, Signal No. 4 up in four Bicol areas

Typhoon Uwan continues to "rapidly intensify" as it heads to Catanduanes province, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. cyclone bulletin on Sunday.

Four areas in the Bicol region are under Signal No. 4, which could experience a "very intense" typhoon, with winds greater than 118 kilometers per hour expected in at least 12 hours.

The following areas are under Signal No. 4:

• Polillo Islands
• the eastern and central portions of Camarines Norte (Mercedes, Daet, Talisay, Vinzons, Capalonga, Labo, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Basud)
• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, San Jose, Presentacion, Caramoan, Cabusao)
• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi)

Areas under Signal No. 3:

Luzon

• the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Tuao, Enrile, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig) Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Kalinga
• the southern portion of Abra (Malibcong, Daguioman, Manabo, Luba, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Tubo, Villaviciosa, Licuan-Baay, Pilar, San Isidro, Bucay)
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• the central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (City of Candon, Gregorio del Pilar, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Cervantes, Burgos, Santa Lucia, Santiago, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, Suyo, Sigay, Galimuyod, Quirino, San Emilio, Alilem, Sugpon, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Narvacan, Salcedo)
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Aurora
• Metro Manila
• Cavite
• the eastern portion of Batangas (Padre Garcia, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, City of Tanauan, Mataas Na Kahoy, Balete, San Juan, Rosario, Malvar, Talisay, San Nicolas, Laurel)
• Laguna
• Rizal
• the rest of Quezon
• the rest of Camarines Norte
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• the rest of Albay
• Sorsogon,
• Ticao and Burias Islands

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Maslog)
• the northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Gandara, Santa Margarita)

Areas under Signal No. 2:

Luzon

• the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Apayao
• the rest of Abra
• Ilocos Norte
• the rest of Ilocos Sur
• the rest of Batangas
• the northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao) including Lubang Islands
• the northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Pola, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas)
• Marinduque
• the northern and eastern portions of Romblon (Banton, Cajidiocan, Romblon, San Andres, Magdiwang, Calatrava, San Agustin, San Fernando, Concepcion, Corcuera, Alcantara, Odiongan, Ferrol, Santa Maria, Looc)
• the rest of Masbate

Visayas

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

Areas under Signal No.1:

Luzon

• Batanes
• the rest of Romblon
• the rest of Oriental Mindoro
• the rest of Occidental Mindoro
• Calamian Islands
• Cuyo Islands

Visayas

• the rest of Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• the northern and central portions of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Borbon, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Asturias, Cebu City, Balamban, City of Talisay, Toledo City, Minglanilla, Dumanjug, Argao, Sibonga, Barili, Ronda, Moalboal, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcantara, City of Carcar, City of Naga, San Fernando, Pinamungahan, Aloguinsan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands'
• the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, City of Talisay, San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Bacolod City, Hinigaran, City of Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Bago City, Valladolid, Pulupandan)
• the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Tayasan, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan)
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Antique

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao)
• the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes)

The center of the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 195 km East of Virac, Catanduanes, moving west northwestward at 35 km/h and with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 215 km/h.

"Heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities far from the landfall point and outside the forecast confidence cone," PAGASA said.

The weather bureau said that on the track forecast, the center of the eye of Uwan may pass close to Catanduanes Sunday morning and make landfall over Aurora in the evening or Monday early morning.

"Due to its proximity, a direct hit, such as eyewall affecting the area without making landfall, or a landfall scenario over Catanduanes is possible," PAGASA said.

After landfall, Uwan will traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over Lingayen Gulf or the coastal waters of Pangasinan or La Union on Monday morning.

PAGASA said Uwan is forecast to reach super typhoon category and may make landfall at or near its peak lifetime intensity.

"The interaction with the terrain will cause Uwan to weaken significantly, but it is expected to remain as a typhoon throughout its passage over Northern Luzon," it added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News