Due to the continuous intensification of typhoon Karding (international name: Noru), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the chance of it becoming a super typhoon is not ruled out before it makes landfall over Quezon or Aurora provinces on Sunday evening, Sept. 25.
PAGASA in its 5 a.m. bulletin on Sunday said that Karding has maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph.
“Karding is forecast to continue intensifying prior to landfall. A landfall scenario as a super typhoon is increasingly likely,” PAGASA said.
A super typhoon had to have a maximum sustained winds of at least 185 kph.
“Frictional effects during landfall and traverse of the Luzon landmass will weaken Karding throughout the evening (Sept. 25) through tomorrow early morning (Sept. 26), although it is highly likely that this tropical cyclone will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass,” PAGASA added.
Possible landfall over Aurora-Quezon area
As of 4 a.m., PAGASA said Karding was estimated at 285 kilometers (km) east of Infanta, Quezon, and was moving west-southwestward at 25 kph.
“Typhoon Karding is forecast to track generally west southwestward or westward in the next six to 12 hours, then westward or northwestward for the remainder of the day,” PAGASA said.
“On the forecast track, Karding will likely make landfall in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon or the southern portion of Aurora tonight. The possibility of an earlier—Sunday afternoon—landfall or close approach in the vicinity of Polillo Islands is not ruled out,” it added.
Afterward, the weather disturbance is seen to traverse Central Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea via the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan.
The typhoon will then continue tracking generally westward over the West Philippine Sea for the rest of the forecast period.
Signal No. 5 could be raised
In anticipation of strong winds because of typhoon Karding, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3, the central and southern portions of Aurora, extreme northern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, eastern portion of Nueva Ecija, eastern portion of Bulacan, northern portion of Rizal, and northern portion of Camarines Norte.
Signal No. 2 was up in Metro Manila, the southern portion of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, the rest of Bulacan, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Aurora, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, the rest of Rizal, northern and central portions of Quezon, the rest of Camarines Norte, northern portion of Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised over the southern portion of Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, southern portion of Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, southern portion of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the rest of Quezon, northern portion of Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Islands, northern portion of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, the rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Ticao Island.
“During the passage of Karding, winds may reach storm-force in strength within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted, while winds may reach gale-force in strength in any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted,” PAGASA said.
“ 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,” it added.
Based on the latest intensity forecast, the hoisting of Wind Signal No. 5 is “increasingly likely,” PAGASA pointed out.
Parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, can expect up to torrential rains
PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains may begin affecting Isabela, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur by early Sunday morning.
Light to heavy rains may also affect mainland Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, and the rest of Bicol Region.
From Sunday afternoon to early Monday morning, Sept. 26, heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands.
Moderate to intense rains may also prevail over Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Cavite, Laguna, central portion of Quezon, and Camarines Norte, while light to heavy rains may persist in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, the rest of Quezon, and Bicol Region.
For the rest of Monday, heavy to torrential rains may continue in Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan.
Meanwhile, moderate to intense rains may persist in Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, and the rest of Central Luzon.
Light to heavy rains may also affect Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Oriental Mindoro, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected, 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 Visayas and the rest of Southern Luzon, especially over the western sections.