Super typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) left the Balintang Channel and is now heading toward the northern portion of the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday morning, Aug. 30.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of the eye of Goring was last located 90 kilometers west-southwest of Basco, Batanes.

The super typhoon is currently moving west-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gusts of up to 240 kph.

PAGASA said Goring may leave the Philippine area of responsibility Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, Aug. 31.

Wind warnings downgraded

Tropical cyclone wind signal numbers 5 and 4 have been lifted by PAGASA as Goring began to move away from the country.

However, Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over Batanes and the northern and western portions of Babuyan Islands and Signal No. 2 over the rest of Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, and the extreme northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan.

Signal No. 1 remains in effect in the northern and central portions of Cagayan, Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga, northern portion of Abra, the rest of Ilocos Norte, and the extreme northern portion of Ilocos Sur.

Heavy rains to persist

Although it is already heading toward the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Goring may still bring torrential rains (more than 200 millimeters) to the southern portion of Batanes and the northwestern portions of Babuyan Islands, and intense rains (100-200 millimeters) over Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Apayao, extreme northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the rest of Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Heavy rains (50-100 millimeters) may prevail over Ilocos Sur, Abra, the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the rest of Apayao.

The enhanced southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” may also continue to bring occasional rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas over the next three days.

“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 that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” PAGASA warned.