Storm "Ulysses" (international name: "Vamco") has intensified into a severe tropical storm, prompting authorities to place more areas in Luzon, including some in the Visayas, under tropical cyclone warnings as early as Tuesday evening.
As of 8 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has hoisted signal number 2 over the central and southern portions of Quezon (Atimonan, Pagbilao, 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) including Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias and Ticao Islands, and Marinduque.
Signal number 1 was also raised over Metro Manila, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, the central and southern portions of Isabela (Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Divilacan, Mallig, Quirino, Ilagan, Palanan, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Burgos, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cauayan City, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, San Guillermo, Dinapigue, Echague, San Isidro, Ramon, Santiago City, Cordon, Jones, San Agustin), Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pamapanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, the rest of Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Masbate, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Northern Samar, northern portions of Samar (Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Tarangnan, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao), and northern portions of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad).
PAGASA said areas under signal number 2 may experience damaging gale- to storm-force winds, while those under signal number 1 may have strong breeze to near gale conditions during the passage of the storm.
As of 7 p.m., Ulysses was at 425 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
Ulysses is still anticipated to reach typhoon status by Wednesday afternoon or evening, with a peak intensity of 130 kph to 155 kph.
PAGASA said Ulysses may make landfall at or near this peak intensity.
If it maintains its typhoon status during its passage, tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 may be hoisted over areas along the cyclone track.
PAGASA is looking at two possible scenarios regarding the landfall of Ulysses, considering the area of probability of the cyclone's center track.
Based on its current track, PAGASA said Ulysses is more likely to make landfall over Quezon province early morning on Thursday, with a close approach to Catanduanes and Camarines Norte on Wednesday afternoon and evening, respectively.
However, should there be a slight southward shift in its center track, PAGASA is not ruling out a possible landfall over Camarines Norte on Wednesday afternoon or evening.