Typhoon Karding (international name: Noru) crossed Tarlac on Monday morning, September 26, and continued to weaken as it headed toward Zambales, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in the 2 a.m. bulletin.
PAGASA said Karding was last seen in the vicinity of Mayantoc, Tarlac, and was moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).
As it barreled through Central Luzon, the typhoon further weakened with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
PAGASA said Karding will emerge over the West Philippine Sea via the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan in the next three hours.
Afterward, the typhoon will continue moving generally westward over the West Philippine Sea towards Vietnam for the rest of the forecast period.
It said that Karding may leave the country’s area of responsibility on Monday evening.
Wind warnings still up
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 remained hoisted over Tarlac, northern and central portions of Zambales, and southern portion of Pangasinan.
Signal No. 3 was in effect in the western portion of Nueva Ecija, northwestern portion of Bulacan, Pampanga, the rest of Zambales, northern portion of Bataan, and the rest of Pangasinan.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 was up in the central and southern portions of Aurora, southern portion of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Bulacan, the rest of Bataan, northern portion of Quezon, Rizal, Metro Manila, western portion of Laguna, Cavite, and northwestern portion of Batangas.
Signal No. 1 was raised in 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.
“During the passage of Karding, areas under Wind Signal No. 4 will still 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 wind signals will continue to be lowered or lifted in the succeeding bulletins as Karding further weakens and moves across Central Luzon.
Rains may persist over Metro Manila, other areas
Heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Zambales and Bataan until Monday morning, PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, moderate to intense rains may persist in Metro Manila, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, western portion of Batangas, and northern portion of Occidental Mindoro.
The rest of Central Luzon, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Laguna, the rest of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Occidental Mindoro will have light to heavy rains.
From morning until afternoon, moderate to intense rains may persist over Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, and Pampanga.
“Under these conditions, widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides are still 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 occasional rains are possible over Metro Manila and the western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours because of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by Karding.