Signal No. 3 raised in NCR, 11 other areas

Tropical cyclone "Ulysses" (international name "Vamco") has intensified into a typhoon and may unleash destructive winds and intense rains when it traverses Central Luzon towards Wednesday midnight until early Thursday.

In its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ulysses was at 100 kilometers (km) north of Virac, Catanduanes and has gained more strength while still at sea.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 155 kph, while moving west-northwest at 20 kph. It may reach a peak intensity of 130 kph to 155 kph prior to landfall.

Signal No. 3 over Metro Manila, many areas As a stronger "Ulysses" inches closer to the country, tropical cyclone wind signal No. 3 was hoisted over Metro Manila, southern portion of Aurora, southern portion of Nueva Ecija, eastern portion of Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, northern and central portions of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and northern portion of Camarines Sur.

Signal No. 2 Signal No. 2 was raised over the central and southern portions of Quirino, central and southern portions of Nueva Vizcaya, southern portion of Benguet, southern portion of La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Aurora, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, northern portion of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, northern portion of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Burias and Ticao Islands.

Signal No. 1 Signal No. 1 was also up in Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, Abra, Ilocos Sur, the rest of La Union, the rest of Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the rest of Masbate, Northern Samar, northern portion of Samar, and northern portion of Eastern Samar.

Work, class suspensions

Malacañang has ordered the suspension of government work and classes in public schools in Metro Manila and six other regions effective 3 p.m. Wednesday until Thursday due to the bad weather caused by typhoon “Ulysses.”

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has issued Memorandum Circular No. 82 on the work and class suspension following the recommendation from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

"In view of the continuing inclement weather brought about by Typhoon 'Ulysses,' work in government offices and classes in public schools at all levels in Regions II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, Cordillera Administrative Region, and National Capital Region are hereby suspended effective 3 PM today, 11 November 2020 (Wednesday) until 12 November 2020 (Thursday)," the memorandum read.

Exempted from the work suspension are those agencies involved in the delivery of basic and health services, disaster preparedness and response, and performance of other vital services.

Medialdea said these concerned agencies must continue with their operations and render the necessary services.

The Palace meantime left to the discretion of the respective heads of private companies, offices, and schools to decide on work and class suspension.

The circular, signed by Medialdea on November 11, took effect immediately.

Typhoon track

Based on its forecast track, PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said "Ulysses" will move generally west throughout its passage.

It may move over the seas north of Catanduanes between Wednesday morning and afternoon and north of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur between afternoon and evening.

"Due to the orientation of the track forecast, these provinces may fall within the inner rainbands or eyewall region of this typhoon during its passage," PAGASA said.

Rojas pointed out that the most destructive winds occur near the eyewall region.

Destructive winds and intense with at times torrential rainfall associated with the region of the eyewall and inner rainbands of the typhoon have started to affect the northern portions of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte which may last until Wednesday evening and over Aurora and the northern portion of Quezon through early Thursday morning.

Landfall Should it maintain its current track, "Ulysses" will likely make landfall over Polillo Islands and mainland Quezon province between Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning.

Afterwards, "Ulysses" will cross Central Luzon and emerge over the western seaboard of Zambales between Thursday morning and afternoon.

Rojas said "Ulysses" may slightly weaken as it crosses mainland Luzon due to frictional effects in the presence of the Sierra Madre and Zambales mountain ranges but will likely remain a strong typhoon throughout its journey.

The typhoon may bring destructive typhoon-force winds in areas under Signal No. 3, damaging gale- to stormforce winds in areas under Signal No. 2, and strong breeze to near gale conditions in areas under Signal No. 1. In other areas, the rest of Northern Luzon will be experiencing strong breeze to gale-force winds due to the surge of northeast monsoon or "amihan."

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are now affecting Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes, and moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Albay, Sorsogon, Quezon including Polillo Islands, and Burias and Ticao Islands.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may affect Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas on Wednesday.

Between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may affect Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also affect the Cordillera Administrative Region, mainland Cagayan Valley, Catanduanes, Marinduque, the northern portion of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, and the rest of Central Luzon. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding, including flash floods, rain-induced landslides, and sediment-laden streamflows, including lahar that may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.

Suspended operation

The operation of the Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) was indefinitely suspended by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday.

Flood advisories

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued flood advisories for river basins in Pampanga, Cagayan, and Bicol region ahead of the anticipated landfall of severe tropical storm "Ulysses."

Flood advisory number 2 was issued for the Pampanga River Basin due to the slow to gradual rise of the Upper Main Pampanga River and its eastern major tributaries — Coronel, Digmala, Santor, Penaranda, Angat Rivers — that may occur beginning Wednesday afternoon.

Likewise, slow to gradual rise of rivers/tributaries Abacan, Pasig-Potrero, Porac-Gumain within the PasacGuagua sub-basin are likely to follow in the evening.

PAGASA warned of possible raininduced landslides and flash floods at the western slopes of Sierra Madre mountains particularly in the eastern part of Nueva Ecija, eastern part of Bulacan, and Pampanga-Tarlac area.

Flood bulletin number 5 was also issued for the Cagayan River Basin due to the projected moderate to heavy rains in the next 12 hours.

The Middle and Lower Cagayan Rivers and their tributaries remain "above alarm level" due to threats of flooding over low-lying areas in Isabela and Cagayan.

PAGASA advised residents living near low-lying areas, particularly those adjacent to and along the affected rivers to remain alert against possible landslides and flash floods.

PAGASA has also issued the first flood bulletin for Bicol River Basin on Wednesday morning due to possible flooding in low-lying areas and urban areas with poor drainage systems.

As of 9 a.m., flooding was already occurring near Ombao Bicol River, while a rapid rise of water level was observed at the Quinali River.

AFP on heightened alert

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gilbert Gapay announced Wednesday that it has maintained a heightened alert among all military disaster response units in the entire Luzon and parts of the Visayas due to severe tropical storm "Ulysses."

Gapay instructed commanders in Southern Luzon Command (SolCom), Northern Luzon Command (NolCom), and Joint Task Force National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) to prepare all their personnel and assets for possible deployment in areas that will be affected.

He said the military has already coordinated with different local government units (LGUs) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) "to ensure their immediate response as soon as the storm passes."

The AFP's search and rescue units with mobility assets were deployed to help LGUs in the pre-emptive evacuation of residents in low-lying and high areas who are at-risk of flooding and landslides.

The Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) of the Philippine Navy alerted its operational subordinate units and disaster response and rescue teams (DRRTs) in anticipation of Ulysses' onslaught in its areas of responsibility in Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), and Central Luzon (Region 3).

M35 and KM450 trucks, three rubber boats, generators, cutting tools, and life-saving equipment were inventoried to ensure a high-level of NFNL's response, said Lieutenant Junior Grade Ken Mar Jay Namoca, acting public affairs officer of the NFNL. (With Genalyn Kabiling, Martin Sadongdong, and Jel Santos)

Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz & Marting Sadongdong

‘Ulysses’ hits C. Luzon today