Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing) made landfall in Santa Ana, Cagayan at 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, packing near-super typhoon strength of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts reaching 240 kph.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that “life-threatening conditions persist” as Marce moves westward. There is also a possibility that the typhoon could intensify into a super typhoon after crossing northeastern Cagayan.

A super typhoon has a maximum wind speed of 185 kph.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Marce is expected to move over Aparri Bay and potentially make another landfall along the northwestern coast of Cagayan later in the evening.

By early Friday morning, Nov. 8, the typhoon is forecast to emerge over the West Philippine Sea.

“Regardless of the position of the center of the eye in the next several hours, it must be emphasized that potentially life threatening conditions due to typhoon-force winds, storm surge inundation, and torrential rainfall will be experienced in the Babuyan Islands and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao,” PAGASA warned.

Wind signals

Signal No. 4 is still in effect over the northern portion of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Lal-Lo, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Gattaran, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Lasam, including Babuyan Islands), northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Flora, Calanasan, Pudtol), and northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, Vintar, Dumalneg, Adams, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Burgos).

Signal No. 3 remains raised over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Ilocos Norte, northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Danglas, Lagayan, Lacub, San Juan, La Paz, Bangued), and northern portion of Ilocos Sur.

Signal No. 2 is still up over the northern and central portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Divilacan, Tumauini, Maconacon, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Palanan, Ilagan City, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Quirino, San Mariano, Gamu, Roxas, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Benito Soliven, Luna, Aurora, San Manuel, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Cabatuan), the rest of Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, northern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Banaue, Hungduan), northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan), the rest of Ilocos Sur, and northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar, Balaoan, Luna, Santol).

Areas under Signal No. 1 are the rest of La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan), and northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria).

Heavy rainfall

PAGASA warned of intense to torrential rainfall (over 200 millimeters) in Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon.

Heavy to intense rainfall (100 to 200 millimeters) may also affect Batanes, Ilocos Sur, Isabela and Abra, while moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Kalinga, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, and Mountain Province.

From Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, Nov. 9, intense to torrential rainfall will persist in Ilocos Norte, while heavy to intense precipitation will continue in Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and Babuyan Islands.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rainfall may affect mainland Cagayan, Batanes, Kalinga, La Union, Abra, and Mountain Province.

Storm surge, gale warnings

PAGASA also issued a storm surge warning and a gale warning due to rough seas and stormy weather.

There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak surge heights exceeding 3 meters above normal tide levels over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union within the next 48 hours.

A gale warning has been also issued over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and Central Luzon due to “up to very rough, high, or very high seas” in these areas.

Typhoon Marce is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday afternoon or evening.