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Signal No. 1 raised over parts of Eastern Visayas, Caraga as typhoon 'Bising' nears land
Signal No. 1 raised over parts of Eastern Visayas, Caraga as typhoon 'Bising' nears land
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted on Friday evening, April 16, tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 over some areas in Eastern Visayas and Caraga region due to the approaching typhoon "Bising" (international name: "Surigae").
In the PAGASA's severe weather bulletin issued at 11 p.m., Friday, Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Eastern Samar, eastern portion of Northern Samar, central and southern portions of Samar, eastern portion of Leyte, eastern portion of Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Nore, and Surigao del Sur.
PAGASA said Signal No. 1 may also be raised over the rest of Eastern Visayas and portions of Bicol region in the next few hours in anticipation of strong breeze to near-gale conditions associated with the typhoon.
As of 10 p.m., the center of the eye of typhoon Bising was estimated at 790 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
Bising has slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
It is currently moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
PAGASA said Bising may bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Eastern Visayas and Camotes Islands between Saturday evening, April 17, and Sunday afternoon, April 18.
"Under these conditions, flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides may occur especially in areas identified in hazard maps as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards," it warned.
Based on the current forecast scenario, PAGASA said Signal No. 2 remains the highest level of wind signal that will be put into effect due to typhoon Bising.
"However, in the event of a further westward shift in the track forecast, there is a possibility that some localities will be placed under higher levels of wind signal," it noted.
In the next 24 hours, typhoon Bising may also cause rough to very rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Bicol region (with waves that may reach 2.5 to 4.0 meters), Eastern Visayas (2.5 to 6.0 m), Caraga (2.5 to 5.5 m), and Davao region (2.5 to 3.0 m).
"Sea travel for all types of seacrafts is risky over these waters," PAGASA advised.
Typhoon Bising is seen to move generally west-northwestward or
northwestward over the Philippine Sea until Monday evening, April 19 evening before it slows down and moves more northward until Tuesday evening, April 20.
Owing to favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions, PAGASA said the cyclone may further intensify and reach its peak intensity around 175 kph to 195 kph by Sunday.