Typhoon "Jolina" (international name "Conson") has weakened into a severe tropical storm while traversing mainland Masbate, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
It was in the vicinity of Baleno, Masbate at around 1 p.m.
In the PAGASA's 2 p.m. bulletin, Jolina slightly weakened, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
PAGASA said areas under tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 were now lowered to Signal No. 2.
Signal No. 2 is in effect in Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, northern portion of Romblon, Sorsogon, Albay, western and southern portions of Camarines Sur, western portion of Camarines Norte, central and southern portions of Quezon, Laguna, southeastern portion of Batangas, Marinduque, western portion of Northern Samar, extreme northwestern portion of Samar, and northern portion of Biliran.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is raised over Metro Manila, the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, Catanduanes, the rest of Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Quezon, Rizal, the rest of Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, southern portion of Aurora, southern portion of Quirino, southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, southern portion of Pangasinan, the rest of Northern Samar, northern and central portions of Samar, northern portion of Eastern Samar, the rest of Biliran, northern portion of Leyte, northern portion of Cebu, northern portion Negros Occidental, northern portion of Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan.
Heavy rains, wind gusts, storm surges
Although Jolina has slightly weakened, PAGASA said the severe tropical storm may continue to bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Masbate, Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Northern Samar, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines provinces, Southern Quezon, Romblon, and Marinduque in the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may prevail over Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Quezon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal.
"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, damaging gale-force to storm-force winds may occur in areas under Signal No. 2 and strong winds with occasional gusts in areas under Signal No. 1.
"In the next 24 hours, the threat of coastal inundation due to storm surge up to 0.5-1.0 m (meter) continues for several coastal localities of Biliran, Sorsogon, Samar, and Masbate," PAGASA also said.
Jolina's forecast track and intensity
In the next 12 hours, PAGASA said Jolina may continue to move generally west-northwest, traverse Masbate and Ragay Gulf, and make another landfall in the vicinity of southeastern Quezon between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, Sept. 8.
Afterward, the tropical cyclone is seen to cross Central Luzon, roughly to the east and north of Metro Manila.
"Frictional effects" while crossing the Luzon landmass will likely lead to the weakening of the cyclone 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 Thursday afternoon as the tropical cyclone moves west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea towards the southern China-northern Vietnam area," it said.
Jolina will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday, Sept. 10.