Typhoon “Quinta” (international name: “Molave”) has maintained its strength but is packing more wind gusts after making landfall twice over Albay early Sunday evening.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Quinta” made landfall over San Miguel Island, Tabaco City, Albay around 6:10 p.m. and Malinao, Albay at 6:50 p.m.
It has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness up to 180 kph.
PAGASA said “Quinta” will likely maintain its typhoon strength as it traverses the Southern Luzon area, and may continue to further intensify while over the West Philippine Sea.
As of 8 p.m. Sunday, Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias and Ticao Islands, southern portion of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Buenavista, Lopez, Guinayangan, Calauag, Tagkawayan, Quezon, Alabat, Perez), southeastern portion of Laguna (Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Rizal, Nagcarlan, San Pablo City, Alaminos, Magdalena, Pagsanjan), Batangas, the extreme northern portion of Romblon (Corcuera, Banton, Concepcion), Marinduque, northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bongabong, Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Socorro, Pola, Naujan, Naujan Lake, Victoria, Calapan City, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera), the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Sablayan), and Lubang Island.
Signal No. 2, meanwhile, is raised over Masbate, central portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real), Polillo Islands, Cavite, the rest of Laguna, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro, and Northern Samar.
Areas under Signal No. 1 are the rest of Quezon province, Rizal, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, Cabangan), Calamian Islands, northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Tagapul-An, Santo Nino, Almagro, Santa Margarita, Gandara, San Jose de Buan, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Jorge, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas), northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Can-Avid, Taft), northern portion of Capiz (Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City, Panay, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas), Aklan, the northern portion of Antique (Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi), and northeastern portion of Iloilo (Batad, Balasan, Estancia, Carles).
Moderate to heavy rains with at times intense rains will prevail 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, and the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.
The weather bureau warned of possible flooding, rain-induced landslides, or sediment-laden streamflow (lahar) during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
Storm surge of up to 2.0 to 3.0 meters high may affect the eastern coastlines of Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, and 1.0 to 2.0 meters high over the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Quezon and Bicol region.
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 (m), and seaboards of Aurora, Zambales, northern Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands (wave heights from 2.5 to 4.5m), and all areas under tropical cyclone signals 1 and 2 (wave heights up to 2.5 to 5.5m).
Sea travel is suspended in these areas.
Moderate to rough seas, with waves that may reach 1.2 to 2.8 m 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.