The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 in parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, as severe tropical storm ‘Uwan’ (Fung-wong) closes in, affecting several provinces on Friday afternoon.
In its first official weather bulletin released at 5:00 p.m., November 7, PAGASA said ‘Uwan’ was located at 1,175 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas. It was moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gusts of up to 135 kph.
‘Uwan’ is about to enter the Philippines almost the same way as ‘Tino’ (Kalmaegi), which triggered serious flooding in several provinces earlier this week, particularly in Visayas. The latest tropical storm is expected to intensify as it moves closer tonight or early Saturday morning (November 8).
PAGASA said ‘Uwan’ is forecast to make a landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or the northern portion of Aurora this Sunday (November 9). It will then traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Monday (November 10).
“In terms of intensity, this [tropical cyclone] is forecast to rapidly intensify and may reach typhoon category in the next 24 hours and super typhoon category tomorrow evening or Sunday morning. It may also make landfall at or near its peak lifetime intensity,” PAGASA noted in its advisory.
“The passage over Luzon will significantly weaken ‘Uwan,’ but it is likely that it will remain a typhoon throughout its passage over the country,” it added.
As of this posting, tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 is raised over the following affected localities:
LUZON
- The southeastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Calauag, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco), the eastern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, Magdiwang), Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate
VISAYAS
- Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern and central portions of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Borbon, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Asturias, Cebu City, Balamban, City of Talisay, Toledo City, Minglanilla) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the northeastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Buenavista, Trinidad, San Miguel, Ubay, Alicia, Mabini, Bien Unido, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia), the northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Manapla), the northeastern portion of Capiz (President Roxas, Pilar, Panay, Pontevedra), and the northeastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Estancia, Balasan, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Batad, Sara, Ajuy)
MINDANAO
- Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “‘Uwan’ enters Philippine area of responsibility—PAGASA.”
