Typhoon "Ulysses" (international name "Vamco") remains a serious threat to the Quezon-Aurora area, with a likely landfall over Polillo Islands between 10 and 12 tonight (Wednesday) and another landfall over mainland Quezon province around 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday.
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 8 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of “Ulysses” at 65 kilometers north of Daet, Camarines Norte, maintaining its maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph.
It said Ulysses may still further intensify and reach its peak intensity of 140 kph-155 kph prior to landfall.
PAGASA said Ulysses made a close approach in the vicinity of Calaguas Islands, Camarines Norte around 6:30 p.m.
Ulysses is still poised to make landfall over Polillo Islands then mainland Quezon province before crossing Central Luzon.
Weather specialist Chris Perez said the center of the typhoon will be closest to Metro Manila between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Thursday, with the metropolis just about 40 kilometers from the center of Ulysses.
It will likely leave the Luzon landmass between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., he added.
With the anticipated approach of “Ulysses,” tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 remains hoisted over Metro Manila, southern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan), the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax Del Norte, Dupax Del Sur), Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, northern and central portions of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Tayabas City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Agdangan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Macalelon, Lopez, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez) including Polillo Islands, Batangas, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Cabusao, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan).
Signal No 2
Signal number 2 was also raised over the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, southern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Itogon, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Baguio City, Tuba), southern portion of La Union (Burgos, Naguilian, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Tubao, Pugo, Santo Tomas, Rosario, Agoo), the rest of Quezon, 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), the rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Burias and Ticao Islands.
Signal No. 1
Meanwhile, signal number 1 was up in Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, Abra, Ilocos Sur, the rest of La Union, the rest of Occidental Mindoro, the rest of 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 may slightly weaken as it crosses mainland Luzon due to frictional effects in the presence of the Sierra Madre and Zambales mountain ranges but it is likely to remain a strong typhoon throughout its journey.
Destructive winds and intense with at times torrential rainfall associated with the region of the eyewall and inner rainbands of the typhoon may persist over Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte until Wednesday evening and over Aurora and the northern portion of Quezon Wednesday evening through early Thursday morning.
Destructive typhoon-force winds
Throughout the passage of the typhoon, destructive typhoon-force winds will be experienced in areas under signal number 3, damaging gale- to storm-force winds in areas under signal number 2, and strong breeze to near gale conditions in areas under signal number 1.
The rest of Northern Luzon will be experiencing strong breeze to gale-force winds due to the surge of northeast monsoon or "amihan."
Between Wednesdsay evening and early Thursday morning, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may prevail across 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, the northern portion of Oriental 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 of "high risk" storm surge of up to 3.0 meters (m) over the coastal areas of Aurora, 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 La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, northern portions of Oriental 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 also risky over the entire seaboards of Northern Luzon Kalayaan Islands, eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar, and coasts of areas with tropical cyclone warnings due to rough to very rough sea conditions.
Sea travel has been suspended in these areas.