Severe Tropical Storm “Pepito” (international name: Man-yi) is expected to bring heavy rains to several areas in Luzon and Eastern Visayas this weekend, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, Nov. 15.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Daniel James Villamil said heavy rainfall could begin as early as Saturday, Nov. 16, as the storm intensifies and nears land.
Catanduanes is expected to experience intense to torrential rainfall (over 200 millimeters), which may lead to widespread flooding and landslides.
Heavy to intense rainfall (100 to 200 millimeters) may affect Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon, where “numerous flooding events” are likely, especially in urbanized and low-lying areas or near rivers. Likewise, landslides are possible in areas with “moderate to high” susceptibility.
Moderate to heavy rainfall (50 to 100 millimeters) is likely in Camarines Norte, Masbate, Leyte, Quezon, Samar, and Biliran, where localized flooding and landslides are possible.
As Pepito moves closer to land on Sunday, Villamil said more areas are expected to experience intense to torrential rainfall, including Catanduanes, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.
Heavy to intense rains may also affect Northern Samar, Albay, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.
Metro Manila, Bataan, Cavite, Zambales, Tarlac, Batangas, Pampanga, Masbate, Romblon, Eastern Samar, Samar, Oriental Mindoro, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino may experience moderate to heavy rains.
As of PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin, Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over Catanduanes, eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes, Basud), the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Presentacion, San Jose, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Goa, Siruma, Tigaon, Sagñay, Calabanga, Naga City, Magarao, Bombon, Pili, Ocampo, Iriga City, Buhi), eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Legazpi City, Malinao, Manito, Tiwi), eastern and southern portions of Sorsogon (Juban, City of Sorsogon, Barcelona, Bulusan, Magallanes, Gubat, Santa Magdalena, Casiguran, Bulan, Irosin, Matnog, Prieto Diaz, Castilla), Northern Samar, northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, Dolores, Can-Avid), and northeastern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan).
PAGASA warned that Pepito could intensify into a super typhoon before its landfall along the eastern coast of Central or Southern Luzon between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
The highest wind warning that may be issued is Signal No. 5, which means that extreme impacts from typhoon-force winds are likely.