Typhoon "Jolina" (international name "Conson") has emerged over Samar Sea after making three landfalls overnight, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
As of 4 a.m., the center of the eye of typhoon Jolina was already over the coastal waters of Sto Niño, Samar.
It has so far made three landfalls--in Hernani, Eastern Samar (10 p.m.) on Monday, Sept. 6; and in Daram, Samar (2 a.m.) and Sto Niño, Samar (3:40 a.m.) on Tuesday.
Within the next 12 hours, PAGASA said the typhoon may move over the Samar Sea and traverse or pass close to the island municipalities of Samar and the northern coast of Biliran before making landfall in the vicinity of Masbate, likely over the mainland or Ticao Island.
During this period, Jolina may weaken into a severe tropical storm, PAGASA said.
In the PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin, Jolina remains a destructive cyclone packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph.
With the anticipated passage of Jolina, PAGASA has hoisted tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 over the eastern portion of Masbate including Ticao Island, extreme western portion of Northern Samar, and northern and central portions of Samar.
Signal No. 2 was also raised over Albay, Sorsogon, the rest of Masbate including Burias Island, western and southern portions of Camarines Sur, eastern portion of Marinduque, southeastern portion of Quezon, eastern portion of Romblon, the rest of Biliran, western portion of Northern Samar, the rest of Samar, central and southern portions of Eastern Samar, and northern portion of Leyte.
Signal No. 1 remains in effect in Catanduanes, the rest of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Laguna, eastern portion of Batangas, the rest of Marinduque, the rest of Romblon, northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern portion of Cebu including Camotes and Bantayan Islands, and northeastern portion of Iloilo.
Meanwhile, PAGASA has lifted Signal No. 1 over Dinagat Islands.
In the next 24 hours, Jolina may continue to bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also affect the southern portion of Quezon, Romblon, Marinduque, and the rest of Bicol Region and Visayas.
"Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps," PAGASA warned.
Likewise, destructive typhoon-force winds may occur in areas under Signal No. 3.
Jolina may also bring strong to gale-force winds in areas under Signal No. 2 and strong winds with occasional gusts in areas under Signal No. 1.
Track and outlook
After its landfall in Masbate, PAGASA said Jolina will likely move northwest towards Burias Island and Ragay Gulf before making another landfall in the vicinity of southeastern Quezon between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, Sept. 8.
"Further weakening is likely during this period," PAGASA said.
By Wednesday afternoon, Jolina may briefly emerge over Lamon Bay before making another landfall in the vicinity of northern Quezon.
Afterward, the tropical cyclone is seen to cross Central Luzon, roughly to the east and north of Metro Manila.
"Frictional effects during its traverse of Luzon landmass will weaken Jolina down to tropical storm category," PAGASA added.
"Jolina is forecast to emerge over the West Philippine Sea before noon on Thursday (Sept. 9). Re-intensification is forecast to occur beginning on Thursday afternoon as the tropical cyclone moves west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea towards the southern China-northern Vietnam area," it said.