By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Typhoon Uwan has further intensified as it continues to move towards the waters off Bicol Region, according to the agency’s 5:00 p.m. bulletin.
Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) was last located 620 km east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph, as it moves west-northwestward at 30 kph.
Due to its closer proximity to the Philippine landmass, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 has been hoisted in Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, the eastern portion of Albay, the northeastern portion of Sorsogon, and the northeastern portion of Northern Samar.
Wind Signal No. 2 has been raised in the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, the rest of Sorsogon, Burias Island, Ticao Island, the rest of Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar, and the northern portion of Eastern Samar.
Wind Signal No. 1 is also hoisted in the following provinces in Luzon: Batanes, the rest of Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Masbate, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands, Calamian Islands, and Cuyo Islands).
Wind Signal no. 1 also prevails over the following provinces in Visayas and Mindanao: the rest of Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, the northern and central portions of Cebu (including Bantayan and Camotes Islands), the northern portion 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.
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 northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; the northern and eastern seaboards of Camarines Sur; the northern seaboard of Camarines Norte.
• Up to 12.0 m: The seaboards of Isabela and Aurora; the eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Albay, and Sorsogon; the northern and eastern seaboards Polillo Islands and Northern Samar.
• Up to 9.0 m: The seaboard of northern mainland Quezon; the northern seaboard of Eastern Samar.
• Up to 7.0 m: The eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar; the remaining seaboards of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands.
• Up to 6.0 m: The seaboard of Zambales, the eastern seaboard of Quezon; the remaining seaboards of Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar.
• Up to 5.0 m: The seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao, and Bucas Grande Islands.
• Up to 4.5 m: The seaboards of Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands, Capiz, northern Iloilo, Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Surigao del Sur; the northern and eastern seaboard of Leyte; the northern seaboards of Cebu, including Bantayan Islands; the western seaboard of Bataan; the remaining seaboards of Quezon and Eastern Samar.
The state weather bureau expects a rapid intensification of Uwan, which may reach super typhoon category on Saturday night or on Sunday.
PAGASA likewise noted a change in Uwan’s track, which may move west northwestward on Sunday (November 9) before moving northwestward on Monday (November 10).
Its eye may also pass close to Catanduanes and make landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or the northern portion of Aurora on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
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 or afternoon.
jpv
