Tropical storm "Quinta" (international name "Molave") intensified into a severe tropical storm hours before its landfall over Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon between Sunday afternoon and evening.
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 11 a.m. Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration raised Signal No. 2 over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands, central and southern portions of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Dolores, Candelaria, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Perez, Alabat, Calauag, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Gumaca, Unisan, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Catanauan, Gen. Luna, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, and San Francisco), Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island, and Northern Samar.
These areas may experience 61 to 120 kilometer per hour winds in 24 hours.
Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Metro Manila, the rest of Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, southern part of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, and Cabangan), Calamian Islands, northern part of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Tagapul-an, Sto. Nino, Almagro, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, San Jose de Buan, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Jorge, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, and Paranas), northern part of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Can-Avid, and Taft), northern part of Capiz (Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City, Panay, Pilar, Pontevedra, and President Roxas), Aklan, northern part of Antique (Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, and Culasi), and northeastern part of Iloilo (Batad, Balasan, Estancia, and Carles).
These areas may experience 30 to 60 kph winds or intermittent rains in at least 36 hours.
PAGASA spotted Quinta at 180 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes around 10 a.m. Sunday, moving at 25 kph and packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
Quinta has maintained its westward track and could make landfall over Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon between Sunday afternoon and evening.
After its landfall, PAGASA said the severe tropical storm will traverse Southern Luzon areas until Monday afternoon and turn west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea.
It is likely to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Tuesday afternoon.
Quinta intensified into a severe tropical storm at 8 a.m. Sunday and PAGASA is not ruling out further intensification prior to its landfall.
After crossing the Philippine archipelago, the weather disturbance may continue to intensify over the West Philippine Sea and become a typhoon (with maximum wind speed of 118 to 220 kph) by Tuesday.
PAGASA advised the public to brace for moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Calamian Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Aklan, and Antique in the next 24 hours.
The tail-end of a frontal system will also bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
PAGASA said both weather systems may also cause light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Metro Manila, Palawan, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province Apayao, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.
Weather specialist Ariel Rojas said Metro Manila may begin to feel the impact of Quinta Sunday evening, starting with light rains around early evening which then may become moderate to at times heavy from late evening until Monday afternoon.
The State weather bureau warned of possible flooding, rain-induced landslides, or sediment-laden stream flow (lahar) during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
Rojas said authorities have been requested to remove billboards, especially in Metro Manila, due to Quinta's possible gusty winds.
Possible storm surges may also affect the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Bicol region, and the central and southern portions of Quezon.
Rough to very rough sea conditions will also prevail over the entire coastlines of Northern Luzon, with wave heights that may reach 3.0 to 5.5 meters, and seaboards of Aurora, Zambales, northern Palawan, including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands (wave heights from 2.5 to 4.5 meters), and all areas under tropical cyclone Signals 1 and 2 (wave heights up to 2.5 to 5.5 meters).
Sea travel is suspended in these areas.
Moderate to rough seas, with waves that may reach 1.2 to 2.8 meters, will prevail over the other coastlines of the country.
PAGASA advised those using small boats to take necessary precautionary measures while venturing out to sea, while inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.
Quinta will be 30 kms east-southeast of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro by Monday morning; 540 kms west of Calapan City by Tuesday morning; and 960 kms west of Central Luzon or outside the PAR by Wednesday morning.
Quinta is the 17th cyclone to form this year and fourth in October, after "Nika," "Ofel," and "Pepito."