Tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 was raised on Monday night, July 24, as typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) continues to pose a serious threat to northern Luzon.

Egay was spotted 425 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Baler, Aurora, or 365 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, as of 10 p.m., Monday.

It was moving north-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), while packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gusts of up to 205 kph.

Based on PAGASA’s latest track forecast, Egay may make landfall or pass very close to the Babuyan Islands on Wednesday morning or afternoon.

However, PAGASA noted that a slight northward or southward shift in the typhoon’s track may result in a landfall or close approach over the northern part of mainland Cagayan or Batanes. 

Due to the anticipated strong winds from the approaching typhoon, Signal No. 3 was hoisted over the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan and northeastern portion of Isabela on Monday evening.

Signal No. 2 was also raised over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and the northern and central portions of Aurora.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Metro Manila, La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, the central and eastern portions of Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, northern and central portions of Samar, northern and central portions of Eastern Samar, and Biliran.

PAGASA said that 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.

Egay may become super typhoon in 24 hours

PAGASA said Egay may continue to strengthen and become a super typhoon with winds exceeding 185 kph within 24 hours.

“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,” it pointed.

Nevertheless, Egay will still be a very strong typhoon.

“A weakening trend may begin as the typhoon passes over the Babuyan Islands due to the potential onset of eye wall replacement cycle and interaction with the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon,” PAGASA said.

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.

Intense rains (100-200 millimeters) may begin to affect the northeastern portion of Cagayan between Monday evening and Tuesday evening.

Heavy rains (50-100 mm) may also prevail over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Albay.

From Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening, torrential rains (over 200 millimeters) are expected in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and Abra.

Intense rains may persist in the rest of Cagayan, western portion of Kalinga, western portion of Mountain Province, western portion of Benguet, La Union, and northwestern portion of Pangasinan, while heavy rains may prevail over the northern portion of Isabela, the rest of Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Benguet, western portion of Ifugao, and the rest of Pangasinan.

PAGASA said that heavy rains may persist in Batanes from Wednesday evening to Thursday evening.

Moreover, 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.

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