Tropical cyclone Karding (international name: Noru) has weakened into a typhoon from a super typhoon after making landfall over Quezon and Aurora provinces on Sunday, Sept. 25, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Karding made landfall over Burdeos, Quezon and Dingalan, Aurora at 5:30 p.m. and 8:20 p.m., respectively.
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the typhoon was already in the vicinity of San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
Although it has weakened, Karding remains a destructive cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.
PAGASA said Karding may continue to weaken during its passage over Luzon.
However, the cyclone is “highly likely” to remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass and that a re-intensification is possible once the typhoon is over the West Philippine Sea.
Signal No. 5 lifted
As Karding weakened into a typhoon, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 has also been lifted.
However, Signal No. 4 remained hoisted over the central and southern portion of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, northern and central portion of Zambales, and southern portion of Pangasinan.
Signal No. 3 was in effect in the southern and central portions of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Bataan, the rest of Zambales, the rest of Pangasinan, northern portion of Rizal, Metro Manila, and extreme northern portion of Quezon.
The rest of Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Benguet, La Union, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, the rest of Rizal, northern and central portions of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, and the western portion of Camarines Norte, including Calaguas Islands, remained under Signal No. 2.
Isabela, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Sur, the rest of Quezon, northern portion of Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Islands, northern portion of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, the rest of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Burias Island were placed under Signal No. 1.
“During the passage of Karding, areas under Wind Signal No. 4 will experience winds peaking at typhoon-force strength, while winds may reach storm-force in strength within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted,” PAGASA said.
“Gale-force conditions are likely within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted, while 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.
PAGASA said that wind signals will continue to be lowered or lifted in the succeeding bulletins as Karding is expected to further weaken while crossing Central Luzon.
Threat remains
PAGASA said Karding will move westward or west-northwestward across Central Luzon in the next few hours before emerging over the West Philippine Sea via the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan early morning on Monday, Sept. 26.
PAGASA said heavy to torrential rains may prevail over the northern portion of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Laguna, Rizal, and the northern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, until Monday morning.
Moderate to intense rains may also prevail over the southern portion of Metro Manila, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, central portion of Quezon, and the northern portion of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, light to heavy rains may persist in mainland Cagayan, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Quezon, and the rest of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
By Monday morning until afternoon, moderate to intense rains may persist in Zambales, Bataan, and the northern portion of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
Light to heavy rains may also prevail over Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, and the rest of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
“Under these conditions, 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 also pointed out that the southwest monsoon or “habagat” may bring occasional rains over Palawan, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.