Typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) is now causing "violent" conditions in the eastern part of Babuyan Islands as it moved over the coastal waters of Calayan, Cagayan on Tuesday evening, July 25, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“Violent and life-threatening conditions within the [typhoon’s] eyewall are expected for Babuyan Islands and possible for the coastal municipalities of mainland Cagayan in the next six hours,” PAGASA warned.

Within the next 12 hours, Egay may continue to move westward or west-northwestward over the Luzon Strait before making landfall over the Babuyan Islands.

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

Egay slightly weakens

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA downgraded Egay from a super typhoon to a typhoon and lowered the highest tropical cyclone wind signal, which it had previously raised from 5 to 4.

“Egay is forecast to weaken throughout the forecast period, although the rate of weakening will not be rapid due to slightly favorable environment offsetting the impact of land interaction with the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon and Taiwan,” PAGASA said.

However, with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 240 kph, Egay remains a very strong tropical cyclone.

Signal No. 4 is now hoisted over the northern portion of Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.

Signal No. 3 was also raised over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga, the northern portion of Abra, and the rest of Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile Signal No. 2 was up over Isabela, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet, the rest of Abra, Ilocos Sur, and northern portion of La Union.

Areas placed under Signal No. 1 were Metro Manila, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Benguet, the rest of La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, the northern portion of Batangas, northern and central portions of Quezon, Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, northern portion of Camarines Sur, and northern portion of Catanduanes.

“Significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds may be experienced within the areas under Wind Signal No. 4, while moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds may be experienced within the areas under Wind Signal No. 3,” PAGASA said.

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

Heavy rains

Typhoon Egay and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” are expected to bring heavy to torrential rains over several parts of Luzon in the next three days.

PAGASA said torrential rains (more than 200 millimeters) may prevail over the northern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.

Intense rains (100-200 millimeters) may also persist in Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, western portion of Kalinga, western portion of Mountain Province, western portion of Benguet, and La Union, while heavy rains (500-100 millimeters) may affect the northern portion of Isabela, western portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, western portion of Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, Pangasinan, and Zambales.

The habagat may also continue to bring light to occasionally heavy rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas.

Egay is expected to leave the country’s area of responsibility by Thursday morning, July 27.