Severe tropical storm Karding (international name: Noru) further intensified while moving west-southwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Aurora province, the Philippin Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.
Karding’s maximum sustained winds increased to 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, from 100 kph six hours ago, while its gustiness increased to 135 kph, from 125 kph previously.
“This tropical cyclone is forecast to intensify into a typhoon in the next 12 hours and may further intensify prior to landfall. While it is likely for this tropical cyclone to slightly weaken due to land interaction during its traverse over Central Luzon, it is highly likely that Karding will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass,” PAGASA said.
Possible landfall over Aurora or northern Quezon
Karding was last seen 475 kilometers (km) east of Casiguran, Aurora or 520 km east of Baler, Aurora, and was moving west-southwestward at 25 kph.
According to PAGASA, Karding is seen to move generally west-southwestward to westward towards the east coast of Aurora or northern portion of Quezon, where it is likely to make landfall on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 25.
After crossing Central Luzon, PAGASA said the tropical cyclone will emerge over the West Philippine Sea late Sunday or early Monday, Sept, 26.
Signal No. 4 possible
Due to the expected landfall of Karding, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the southeastern portion of Isabela, southeastern portion of Quirino, southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, eastern portion of Nueva Ecija, Aurora, eastern portion of Bulacan, eastern portion of Rizal, eastern portion of Laguna, northern and central portion of Quezon, northwestern portion of Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised in the southern portion of Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, southern portion of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, southern portion of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, the rest of Laguna, the rest of Rizal, the rest of Quezon, Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Marinduque, northwestern portion of Occidental Mindoro, and northwestern portion of Oriental Mindoro.
“Winds may reach gale-force in strength in any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted throughout the passage of Karding. Strong winds—strong breeze to near gale strength—will be experienced within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 1 is currently in effect,” PAGASA said.
“Per latest track and intensity forecast, the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 4,” it added.
Heavy rains to prevail
PAGASA said light to heavy rains may begin affecting Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, the northern portion of Aurora, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur between Saturday evening and early Sunday morning.
For the rest of Sunday through early Monday morning, heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and the northern portion of Zambales.
Moderate to intense rains may also prevail over the rest of Central Luzon, while moderate to heavy rains may affect Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
“Under these conditions, scattered flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA said.
It added that because of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” partly influenced by Karding, occasional rains are possible over most of Southern Luzon and Visayas, especially over the western sections, as early as Saturday.