The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) may raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 due to the expected “typhoon-force conditions” from tropical storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae).
In a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 27, PAGASA Administrator Vicente Malano said it is possible that Signal No. 4 will be raised in Bicol Region by Saturday, Oct. 29, as Paeng may intensify into a typhoon.
In its 11 p.m. bulletin issued on Thursday, PAGASA said that Paeng may strengthen into a severe tropical storm within 24 hours, before intensifying into a typhoon on Saturday.
However, PAGASA has not ruled out a possible “rapid intensification” in the next 72 hours.
As of 11 p.m., Thursday, Signal No. 1 was up in Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Camarines Sur, eastern portion of Romblon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Polillo Islands, southern portion of mainland Quezon, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and northern portion of Leyte.
“Strong winds may be experienced within any of the areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted throughout the entire passage of Paeng,” PAGASA said.
‘Paeng’ may pass very close to or make landfall in Catanduanes
PAGASA last spotted the storm 485 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, and it was slowly moving westward.
It is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.
“On the forecast track, Paeng may make landfall or pass very close to Catanduanes on Saturday. Another landfall scenario is possible on Sunday (Oct. 30) over Aurora or the east coast of Quezon,” PAGASA said.
“Considering the southward shift in the forecast track, a possible landfall in the eastern portion of Bicol Region is not ruled out at this time,” it added.
Brace for heavy rains
From Friday morning to evening, Oct. 28, PAGASA said moderate to intense rains may prevail over Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, while light to heavy rains are possible over Quezon, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and the rest of Visayas.
From Friday evening to Saturday, heavy to torrential rains are possible over the Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Marinduque, and Quezon.
Moreover, moderate to intense rains may prevail over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Aurora, Bulacan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Western Visayas, eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela, and the rest of Eastern Visayas.
Light to heavy rains are also possible over Palawan, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, and the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.
“Under these conditions, 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.
The State weather bureau also pointed out that the combined effect of the shear line and trough or extension of Paeng may continue to cause heavy rains in the Visayas, most of Southern Luzon, and the northern part of Mindanao in the next 24 hours.