The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals in more areas as storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) may make its first landfall over Catanduanes by Saturday morning, Oct. 29.
After its landfall in Catanduanes early Saturday morning, Paeng may pass the northern part of Camarines Sur, then the eastern part of Camarines Norte, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin issued on Friday, Oct. 28.
By Sunday morning, Oct. 30, PAGASA said the center of Paeng may make another landfall over the coastal area of eastern Quezon, including Polillo Islands, or Aurora.
Due to the expected “gale force strength” winds from Paeng, PAGASA hoisted Signal No. 2 over Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, central and southern portions of Quezon, Marinduque, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, northeastern portion of Leyte, and Biliran.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised in Metro Manila, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, southeastern portion of Tarlac, central and southern portions of Nueva Ecija, southern portion of Aurora, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Calamian Islands.
Areas under Signal No. 1 may experience “strong” winds associated with the storm
‘Paeng’ ‘less likely’ to reach typhoon category
As of 10 a.m., Paeng was estimated 220 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, or 305 km of Catarman, Northern Samar.
According to PAGASA, the movement of the storm accelerated to a speed of 25 kilometers per hour (kph) west-northwest toward the Bicol Region.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
“Paeng is forecast to further intensify while moving over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea and may reach the severe tropical storm category within 24 hours,” PAGASA said.
However, it pointed out that because of a landfall scenario in Bicol Region, Paeng is now less likely to intensify into a typhoon and there is an “increasing likelihood” that Paeng may remain a severe tropical storm.
“Per latest track and intensity forecast, the highest wind signal that will likely be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 3 in anticipation of storm-force conditions associated with Paeng,” PAGASA said.
Heavy rains to affect several parts of PH
From Friday until early Saturday morning, heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, while moderate to intense rains may persist in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Quezon, Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Northern Mindanao, and the rest of Visayas.
Light to heavy rains are also possible over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, and the rest of Mindanao.
From Saturday morning to Sunday morning, heavy to torrential rains are likely over Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bicol Region, Aurora, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.
Moderate to intense rains may also prevail over Metro Manila, mainland Cagayan, Cordillera Administrative Region, Western Visayas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and the rest of Central Luzon, while light to heavy rains are possible over Zamboanga Peninsula and the rest of Luzon and Visayas.
“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 warned.