Super Typhoon “Pepito” (international name: Man-yi) continued to batter Luzon and parts of Eastern Visayas with destructive winds and heavy rains, after making landfall over Panganiban, Catanduanes at 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.
In its 2 a.m. bulletin on Sunday, Nov. 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Pepito continues to move over the coastal waters of Caramoan, Camarines Sur.
PAGASA said the super typhoon made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts soaring to 325 kph. After landfall, Pepito slightly weakened, currently with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near its center and gusts reaching 280 kph.
However, it remains a powerful cyclone while continuously moving west-northwestward over the coastal waters of Camarines Sur.
A significant weakening is expected as it traverses mainland Luzon, but may remain a typhoon throughout its passage, PAGASA said.
Forecast track
PAGASA said Pepito will continue to move over the waters north of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, and may closely approach or make another landfall over Calaguas Islands.
It is expected to have additional landfalls, including over Polillo Islands between Sunday morning and noon, before striking northern Quezon or central or southern Aurora between Sunday noon and afternoon.
It will then move across the northern portion of Central Luzon and the southern parts of Northern Luzon, crossing upland areas, such as Sierra Madre, Caraballo, and Cordillera Central in the afternoon and evening.
By late Sunday or early Monday, Pepito is expected to emerge over the coastal waters of Pangasinan or La Union on Sunday evening or early Monday, Nov. 18, and exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Monday morning or afternoon.
Typhoon warnings, storm surge threat continues
Signal No. 5 remains raised over northern Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Caramoran), northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion), and eastern portion of Polillo Islands (Patnanungan, Jomalig), where Pepito is expected to bring extreme impacts from typhoon-force winds.
Signal No. 4 is in effect over the northernmost portion of Albay (Tiwi), eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, San Jose, Tigaon, Sagñay, Calabanga), the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Catanduanes, and the rest of Polillo Islands. Significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds may be felt in these areas.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 3 is in place over the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat), the rest of Albay, the rest of Camarines Sur, northeastern Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Lopez, Quezon, Perez, Alabat, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Real, General Nakar, Infanta, Mauban, Sampaloc), eastern Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti), eastern and central portions of Rizal (Pililla, Tanay, City of Antipolo, Rodriguez, Baras, San Mateo, Morong, Teresa), Aurora, central and easternportions of Bulacan (Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Angat, City of San Jose del Monte, Santa Maria, Pandi, Baliuag, Bustos, Pulilan, Plaridel), northeastern Pampanga (Candaba, Arayat, Magalang), Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, northeastern Pampanga (Candaba, Arayat, Magalang, San Luis, San Simon, Mexico, Santa Ana, Apalit, Santo Tomas, City of San Fernando, Mabalacat City, Angeles City), northern Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig), Pangasinan, La Union, southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Alilem, Sugpon, Cervantes, Suyo, Tagudin), Benguet, Ifugao, southern portion of Mountain Province (Tadian, Bauko, Sabangan), Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the southern portion of Isabela (Jones, Echague, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Alicia, San Mateo, Ramon, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Cordon). These areas may experience “moderate to significant impacts” from storm-force winds.
Signal No. 2 is up over the rest of Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Burias Island, Marinduque, the rest of Quezon, the rest of Laguna, the rest of Rizal, Cavite, northern Batangas (City of Tanauan, Santo Tomas, Talisay, Lipa City, Malvar, Balete, Mataasnakahoy, Laurel, Padre Garcia), Metro Manila, Bataan, the rest of Zambales, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Bulacan, Kalinga, Abra, the rest of Mountain Province, southern Apayao (Kabugao, Conner), the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Isabela, and southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Tuao, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Piat), and Northern Samar. Minor to moderate impacts” from gale-force winds are possible.
Signal No. 1 is also raised over the rest of Masbate, northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, City of Calapan, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay), northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, including Lubang Islands), the rest of Batangas, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Biliran, northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, including Bantayan Islands), northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles), northern portion of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, Matuguinao, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Calbayog City, Talalora, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, Santo Niño, Tagapul-an, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangan, Calbiga, Daram, Paranas, Hinabangan), northern portion of Eastern Samar (Can-avid, Maslog, San Policarpio, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, San Julian), and northernmost portion of Leyte (San Isidro, Calubian). These areas may experience “minimal to minor impacts” from strong winds.
In addition to strong winds, PAGASA has warned of life-threatening storm surges with peak heights exceeding 3 meters over low-lying coastal areas in Ilocos Region, Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar.
A gale warning is also in effect for the eastern and southern seaboards of Luzon due “very rough” or “very high” seas.
Heavy rainfall, flooding risk
On Sunday, Pepito may also continue to bring intense to torrential rainfall (over 200) over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon, Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. This may lead to widespread flooding and landslides.
Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Benguet, Pangasinan, Ifugao, La Union, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Albay, and Sorsogon may experience heavy to intense rainfall (100 to 200 millimeters), which may lead to“numerous flooding events,” 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 Metro Manila, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Batangas, Cagayan, Mountain Province, Zambales, Kalinga, Abra, and Ilocos Sur, where localized flooding and landslides are possible.
On Monday, heavy to intense rainfall may persist in La Union and Pangasinan, while moderate to heavy rains may affect Zambales and Ilocos Sur.
PAGASA advised residents in affected areas to stay alert, as Pepito continues to pose a significant threat to lives, properties, and infrastructure.