Typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) moved closer to the country on Monday, July 24, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to issue tropical cyclone wind signals over several areas in Luzon and Visayas.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the typhoon was last spotted 525 kilometers (km) east of Baler, Aurora, and is slowly moving westward.

Egay continues to strengthen, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 185 kph.

Due to the anticipated strong winds from the approaching typhoon, Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Catanduanes, central and eastern portion of Isabela, the eastern portion of Albay, eastern portion of Camarines Sur, northern portion of Aurora, eastern portion of Quirino, eastern and central portion of Cagayan, northern portion of Camarines Norte, and northeastern portion of Northern Samar.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised over Metro Manila, Sorsogon, the rest of Albay, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the rest of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Batanes, Masbate including Ticao Island, Burias Island, Quezon including Polillo Islands, the rest of Aurora, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Marinduque, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, eastern and central portion of Romblon, northern and central portion of Batangas, Eastern Samar, the rest of Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, northern and central portion of Leyte, and northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands.

Between late Tuesday, July 25, and early Wednesday, July 26, Egay may continue to strengthen and become a super typhoon with winds exceeding 185 kph, PAGASA said.

Based on the current forecast scenario, the highest wind signal that may be hoisted will be Signal No. 4 or 5, which is associated with typhoon-force winds.

“However, should the track forecast shift closer to the landmass of Luzon, the typhoon may peak at an intensity just below the super typhoon threshold. Nevertheless, Egay is forecast to become a very strong typhoon,” PAGASA pointed out.

Landfall still possible

Egay may move west-northwestward in the next 12 hours, then turn northwestward before heading toward Northern Luzon.

“On the track forecast, this typhoon is forecast to cross the Luzon Strait and make landfall or pass very close to the Babuyan Islands-Batanes area between tomorrow late evening (July 25) and Wednesday afternoon (July 26),” PAGASA said.

“[However,] it must be emphasized that further shift in the track forecast closer to Luzon remains a possibility due to the persistence of the ridge of high pressure north of the typhoon. This is represented by the forecast confidence cone. As such, a landfall over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan is not ruled out,” it pointed out.

Egay may leave the country’s area of responsibility on Thursday, July 27.

Heavy rains due to Egay, enhanced ‘habagat’

PAGASA warned that Egay may bring heavy to torrential rains over parts of Luzon in the next few days.

From Monday to Tuesday noon, Cagayan, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and the northern portion of Sorsogon may experience heavy rains (50-100 millimeters).

From Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon, torrential rains (over 200 millimeters) are expected in Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, northern portion of Apayao, Abra, and the northern portion of La Union, while intense rains (100-200 millimeters) may prevail over the northern and eastern portion of Isabela, the rest of Apayao, the rest of La Union, Mt. Province, Benguet, and the western portion of Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, heavy rains may affect the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Pangasinan, and Zambales.

From Wednesday noon to Thursday noon, torrential rains may prevail over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and the northwestern portion of Abra, while intense rains may persist in the northern portion of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, the rest of Abra, and Ilocos Sur.

Heavy rains may also affect the rest of mainland Cagayan, Kalinga, the western portion of Mountain Province, Benguet, La Union, and Pangasinan.

PAGASA said the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” enhanced by Egay, may also bring significant rains over the next three days, particularly in Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Metro Manila, Cavite, and Batangas.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” PAGASA warned.

Moreover, minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are possible within any of the areas where Signal No. 2 is in effect, while minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are also possible within any of the areas where Signal No.1 is hoisted.

PAGASA said Egay and the enhanced habagat may also bring gusty conditions over the western portions of the country.