By Alec Go
More areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 due to Tropical Storm ‘Paeng’ which is forecast to intensify and become a severe tropical storm in the next 12 hours.
As of 5:00 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised TCWS No. 1 over the following areas:
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
- Northern portion of Leyte (San Isidro, Calubian, Tabango, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara,
- Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo)
As of 4:00 p.m., ‘Paeng’ was at 510 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
PAGASA said ‘Paeng’ may pass close to Catanduanes on Saturday and may make landfall in the eastern coast of Aurora or Quezon on Sunday.
The possibility of landfall in the eastern portion of Bicol Region has not yet been ruled out.
“Ito ay babaybay ng gitna’t hilagang Luzon at [may] posibilidad na lumabas ng Pangasinan area…Hindi natin tinatanggal ang possibility na ito ay magkaroon pa ulit ng pagsadsad at maaari ngang mahagip pa ang Quezon area sa mga susunod na araw,” PAGASA weather forecaster Raymond Ordinario said.
“Hanggang ngayon, malaki pa rin ang panganib na maidudulot nito sa Calabarzon, Central Luzon, at dito sa Metro Manila,” Ordinario added.
Rapid intensification is likely and ‘Paeng’ may still turn into a typhoon. It may also reach super typhoon category or remain a typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h.
“May kalakasan ang hangin ang dala ng Bagyong ‘Paeng’. Mayroon din itong malalakas na pag-ulan,” Ordinario said.
Moderate to torrential rains are expected in some portions of Luzon and Visayas on Friday until Saturday.
