The eyewall of super typhoon Karding (international name: Noru) is now affecting Polillo Islands, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its latest bulletin.

On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 25 at 4 p.m., the eye of Karding was located over the coastal waters of Burdeos, Polillo Islands in Quezon. It has maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of up to 240 kph, and it is moving westward at 20 kph.

Currently, the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 5, PAGASA’s highest wind signal, is in effect over Polillo Islands, the extreme northern portion of Quezon (the northern and central portions of General Nakar, the northeastern portion of Infanta), the extreme southern portion of Aurora (Dingalan), the extreme southern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda, San Isidro, Cabiao), Pampanga (Arayat, Candaba, Santa Ana, San Luis), the eastern and central portions of Bulacan (San Rafael, Angat, Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Ildefonso, San Miguel), and the extreme northern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez), the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, Arayat).

Residents of these areas were strongly advised to remain alert against typhoon-force winds within 12 hours.

Signal no. 4 was hoisted in Calaguas Islands, the central and southern portion of Nueva Ecija, the northern portion of Metro Manila, Tarlac, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Bulacan, Zambales, the northern portion of Bataan, the southern portion of Pangasinan, and the extreme northern portion of Laguna.

Individuals residing in areas under Signal no. 4 may also experience typhoon-force winds within 12 hours which may bring significant threat to life and property.

Signal no. 3 was raised in the central portion of Aurora, the southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Bataan, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Metro Manila, the rest of Rizal, the northern and central portions of Laguna, the northern and central portions of Cavite, the rest of the northern portion of Quezon, and the northern portion of Camarines Norte.

Wind Signal no. 2, on the other hand, is currently up over the southern portion of Isabela, Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Laguna, the central portions of Quezon, the rest of Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.

Meanwhile, Signal no. 1 was hoisted in the southern portion of Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the southern portion of Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the southern portion of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the rest of Quezon, the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, the rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island and Ticao Island.

Landfall scenario, intensity outlook

The latest forecast issued by PAGASA showed that Karding will likely make landfall in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon on Sunday evening, Sept. 25 between 6 to 8 p.m. But the state weather bureau is not ruling out the possibility of a landfall in the vicinity of Polillo Islands.

“Inaasahan natin na mapapanatili ang kanyang lakas bago mag landfall. It means super typhoon intensity pa rin po ang inaasahan natin. Habang tumatawid ito sa kalupaan ng bansa ay pwede itong bahagyang humina (We expect Karding to maintain its strength before landfall. It means we are still expecting its super typhoon intensity. It may weaken slightly as it crosses the Philippine landmass),” said PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist Chris Perez in a press briefing.

Heavy to sometimes torrential rains may persist in Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands beginning Sunday afternoon, Sept. 25 until Monday morning, Sept. 26.