By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Super Typhoon Uwan continues to move towards Aurora and Polillo Islands, as it continues to pose life-threatening conditions over Camarines Norte, according to the agency’s 5:00 p.m. bulletin.
Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) was last located 110 km north of Daet, Camarines Norte, 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 the storm nearing its landfall, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has already hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 in the southern portion of Quirino, the southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija, the central portion of Aurora, Polillo Islands, and the northern portion of Camarines Norte (including Calaguas Islands).
Wind Signal No. 4 is declared in the southern portion of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Mountain Province, the southern portion of Ifugao, Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the northernmost portion of Zambales, the northeastern portion of Tarlac, the easternmost portion of Pampanga, the eastern portion of Bulacan, the northern portion of Rizal, the northern and eastern portions of Quezon, the rest of Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur, and the northern portion of Catanduanes.
Wind Signal No. 3 prevails over the southern portion of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the northwestern, central, and southern portions of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Zambales, Bataan, the rest of Tarlac, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Rizal, Laguna, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Ticao Islands, Burias Islands, and the northwestern portion of Northern Samar.
Wind Signal No. 2 has been raised in Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the rest of Masbate, the rest of Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar, and the northern portion of Eastern Samar.
Wind Signal No. 1 is declared in Batanes, the northern portion of Palawan (including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands), the rest of Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.
The state weather bureau, meanwhile, warned of storm surge in several coastal communities, which may bring up to 3-meter-high surges in the Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Burias Island, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, 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.
- Up to 12.0 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
- Up to 10.0 m: The seaboards of La Union and Pangasinan; the eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan.
- Up to 8.0 m: The seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur; the remaining seaboard of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands; the eastern seaboard of northern and central mainland Quezon; and the remaining seaboard of Polillo Islands.
- Up to 7.0 m: The seaboards of Batanes and Zambales; the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon.
- Up to 5.5 m: The seaboard of Marinduque; the western seaboards of Lubang Islands and Bataan; the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; the northern seaboard of Eastern Samar; the northern and western seaboards of mainland Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands; and the remaining seaboards of Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.
- Up to 4.5 m: The seaboards of Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Calamian Islands, Caluya Islands, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte (including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands), and Surigao del Sur; the northern seaboard of Cebu (including Bantayan Islands); the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental; and the remaining seaboards of Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Masbate, and Northern Samar.
Super Typhoon Uwan is expected to maintain its west-northwestward track over the next 24 hours, with its eye passing close to Polillo Islands before 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.
From there, the storm is forecast to change direction, turning northward on Tuesday (Nov. 12) before moving northeastward towards the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday (Nov. 13).
The state weather bureau encourages the citizenry to heed warnings from disaster risk reduction and management offices and local chief executives, especially for those living in flood or landslide-prone areas.
av
