By Brian Campued
Typhoon Tino (international) slightly intensified Wednesday morning as it moved away from northern Palawan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its 11:00 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tino was last monitored 190 km west of Coron, Palawan. It is moving west-northwestward at 20 kph, with winds of 130 kph near the center and gusts of up to 180 kph.
“‘Yung kabuuan ng bagyo nakakaapekto po dito sa malaking bahagi ng MIMAROPA and some portions of Western Visayas and Negros Island Region,” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said in a public briefing. “Pinakamalalakas pa rin ang mga pag-ulan dito sa Palawan at may kalat-kalat na ulan in other areas of Luzon and Visayas, kabilang na rin sa may northern and Central Luzon.”
Early Wednesday morning, Tino made its seventh landfall over Batas Island in Taytay, Palawan at 4:10 a.m. and eighth landfall over El Nido, Palawan at 4:50 a.m. The typhoon previously made landfall in Silago, Southern Leyte; Borbon, Cebu; Sagay City, Negros Occidental; San Lorenzo, Guimaras; Iloilo City; and in Cuyo Islands on Tuesday.
Based on the forecast track, Tino is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, Nov. 6.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 remains hoisted over El Nido, Palawan, where typhoon-force winds that pose significant to severe threat to life and property may be experienced within the next 12 hours.
The northern portion of Palawan (San Vicente and Taytay) including Calamian Islands are placed under TCWS No. 3, while Wind Signal No. 2 is raised over the eastern and central portions of Palawan (Puerto Princesa City, Roxas, Dumaran, and Araceli) including Kalayaan Islands.
TCWS No. 1 is also hoisted in Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Islands, the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bongabong, Roxas, Bulalacao, and Mansalay), and the southern portion of Palawan (Aborlan, Quezon, Narra, and Sofronio Española,) including Cuyo Islands.
Typhoon Tino will continue to bring heavy to intense rains over Palawan and moderate to heavy rains in Aurora, Antique, and Occidental Mindoro until Thursday noon. Flooding and landslides are possible in the said provinces.
Residents in low-lying and coastal localities of Palawan are also warned of possible storm surge exceeding 3 meters within the next 24 hours.
Sea travel is likewise risky for small seacrafts over Northern Palawan including Cuyo and Calamian Islands, Kalayaan Islands, southern coast of Occidental Mindoro, western coast of Aklan, and Antique including Caluya Islands due to rough to very rough sea conditions.
Meanwhile, a tropical depression is still being monitored 1,870 km east of northeastern Mindanao as of 10:00 a.m. this Wednesday. It may enter the PAR on late Friday evening, Nov. 7, or early Saturday morning, Nov. 8, and will be given the name “Uwan”.
The state weather bureau said in its advisory that the tropical cyclone is forecast to rapidly intensify and reach super typhoon category, which will prompt the hoisting of Wind Signal No. 5.
Estareja said the potential “Uwan” may threaten northern or Central Luzon, with possible landfall over mainland Cagayan or Aurora on Monday, Nov. 10.
-jpv
