By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Super Typhoon Uwan continues to move towards Central Luzon as it intensifies over the waters of Bicol Region, according to the agency’s 11:00 a.m. bulletin.
Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) was last located over the coastal waters of Pandan, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph, as it moves west-northwestward at 30 kph.
With life-threatening conditions brought about by the storm’s expansive rain bands, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has already hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 in the central portion of Aurora, Polillo Islands, the northern portion of Camarines Norte, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.
Wind Signal No. 4 is declared in the southern portion of Isabela, Quirino, the eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, the easternmost portion of Pampanga, the northern and eastern portions of Bulacan, the northern and eastern portions of Quezon, the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, and the northeastern portion of Albay.
Wind Signal No. 3 prevails over the southern portion of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, the rest of Albay, Sorsogon, Ticao Islands, Burias Islands, and Northern Samar.
Wind Signal No. 2 has been raised in the rest of Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), the rest of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands), Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the rest of Masbate, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and the northern and central portions of Leyte.
Wind Signal No. 1 is declared in Batanes, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, the northern and central portions of Cebu (including Bantayan and Camotes Islands), the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, the northern portion of Negros Oriental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte, and the northern portion of Surigao del Sur.
The state weather bureau, meanwhile, warned of storm surge in several coastal communities, which may bring up to 3-meter-high surges in Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands within the next 48 hours.
PAGASA also issued a gale warning advisory over various seaboards in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, noting risky travel for all types of vessels due to very rough seas and high waves in these coastal waters:
- Up to 14.0 m: The seaboards of Isabela, Aurora, and Camarines Norte; the northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands and Catanduanes; and the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur.
- Up to 12.0 m: The seaboards of La Union and Pangasinan.
- Up to 10.0 m: The eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan.
- Up to 9.0 m: The seaboard of Ilocos Norte; the eastern seaboards of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon; the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; the remaining seaboard of Catanduanes
- Up to 8.0 m: The seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Zambales; the remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan.
- Up to 7.0 m: The seaboard of Batanes; the eastern seaboard of northern and central mainland Quezon; the remaining seaboard of Polillo Islands.
- Up to 6.0 m: The seaboards of Burias and Ticao Islands; the western seaboards of Lubang Islands and Bataan; the eastern seaboards of southern Quezon and Eastern Samar; the remaining seaboards of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon; the northern and western seaboards of mainland Masbate
- Up to 5.0 m: The seaboards of Marinduque, Romblon, and Biliran; the eastern seaboards of Oriental Mindoro and Masbate; the northern seaboard of Leyte; the western seaboard of Samar; the remaining seaboards of Quezon and Northern Samar.
- Up to 4.5 m: The seaboard of Lubang Islands and Surigao del Sur; the seaboards of Batangas; the northern and western seaboards of Occidental Mindoro; the northern seaboard of Calamian Islands and Oriental Mindoro; the northern and eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao Islands; and the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental.
Super Typhoon Uwan is expected to continue its passage within proximity of the Bicol Peninsula and may pass close to or make landfall on Calaguas and Polillo Islands prior to making landfall over the central portion of Aurora on Sunday night or Monday morning (Nov. 10).
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.
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