Signal No. 3 may be raised in Metro Manila if storm is upgraded to typhoon category
The center of severe tropical storm “Ulysses” is more likely to make landfall over Polillo Islands and mainland Quezon province between Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The center of "Ulysses" was estimated at 180 kilometers (km) northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 415 km east of Infanta, Quezon at around 4 a.m., Wednesday.
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 5 a.m., PAGASA said "Ulysses" may traverse the waters north of Catanduanes between Wednesday morning and afternoon and north of Camarines Norte-Camarines Sur between afternoon or evening before heading towards Polillo Islands.
Although the center of "Ulysses" may not likely move over the landmass of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, these areas are still expected to bear the brunt of severe weather conditions as they may fall within the inner rainbands of the storm during its passage.
After its landfall, “Ulysses” will cross mainland Luzon and emerge over the western seaboard of Central Luzon between Thursday morning and afternoon.
More areas are now under tropical cyclone wind Signal Nos. 1 and 2 as "Ulysses" nears its landfall.
Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Metro Manila, southern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan), the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Dupax Del Norte, Dupax Del Sur, Aritao, Santa Fe, Alfonso Castaneda), eastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, San Manuel, Natividad, San Quintin, Umingan, Tayug, Santa Maria, Balungao, Asingan, Urdaneta City, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Basista, Bautista, Alcala, Villasis, Rosales, Binalonan, Laoac, Santo Tomas), southern portion of Zambales (Botolan, Cabangan, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Marcelino, San Antonio, Castillejos, Subic, Olongapo City), Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Marinduque, northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Abra de Ilog) including Lubang Island, northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Pola, Victoria, Naujan, Baco, Calapan City, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera), Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Burias and Ticao Islands.
Signal No. 1 is also up in Isabela, the rest of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the rest of Pangasinan and Zambales, the rest of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the rest of Masbate, Northern Samar, northern portion of Samar (Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Tarangnan, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao), and northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad).
PAGASA said "Ulysses" has maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 125 kph.
It may further intensify and reach typhoon status within the next 12 hours with a peak intensity of 130 kph to 155 kph prior to landfall.
PAGASA said "Ulysses" may slightly weaken as it crosses mainland Luzon due to interaction with the rugged terrain of Sierra Madre and Zambales Mountain Ranges along its projected path.
However, it is likely to remain a typhoon during its passage, it noted.
Throughout the passage of the "Ulysses," PAGASA said areas under Signal No. 2 may experience damaging gale-force to storm-force winds, while those under Signal No. 1 may have strong breeze to near gale conditions.
The raising of Signal No. 3 remains likely given the anticipated intensification of "Ulysses" into a typhoon.
PAGASA said signal number 3 may be hoisted over Metro Manila and portions of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol region once "Ulysses" is upgraded to typhoon category.
From Wednesday morning until late afternoon, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may prevail over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes, while moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may affect Albay, Sorsogon, Quezon including Polillo Islands, and Burias and Ticao Islands.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also likely over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas.
From late Wednesday afternoon to early Thursday morning, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may persist over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also affect Cordillera Administrative Region, mainland Cagayan Valley, Catanduanes, Marinduque, northern portions of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, and the rest of Central Luzon.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over the rest of Luzon and Visayas.
PAGASA warned that flooding, rain-induced landslides, and sediment-laden streamflows or lahar may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
There is also a high risk of storm surge up to 3.0 meters (m) over the coastal areas of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, and the northern and eastern coastal areas of Camarines Sur, and up to 2.0 m over the coastal areas of Aurora, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, northern portions of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, and Sorsogon, and the remaining coastal areas of Camarines Sur.
These storm surges, which may be accompanied by swells and/or breaking waves near the coast, can cause life-threatening and damaging coastal inundation.
Moreover, there is also a moderate risk of seiche or storm surge over the coastal areas surrounding Laguna de Bay.
Sea travel is suspended over the entire seaboards of Northern Luzon, Kalayaan Islands, eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar, and coasts of areas under signal numbers 1 and 2 due to rough to very rough sea conditions.