Typhoon “Pepito” is forecast to rapidly intensify until tomorrow, possibly reaching super typhoon category before its landfall on Saturday evening or Sunday early morning, according to the 5 p.m. bulletin of state weather bureau PAGASA.
The center its eye was estimated at 465 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It was moving west-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 2 was raised over the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Mapanas, Gamay, Palapag, Lapinig, Silvino Lobos, Laoang, Catubig, Las Navas, Pambujan, Mondragon, San Roque, Catarman, Lope de Vega), the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Can-Avid), and the northeastern portion of Samar (San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao).
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Aurora, Quezon, the eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Mabitac, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Luisiana, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, San Pablo City, Rizal), Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, the rest of Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar and Biliran.
Pepito is forecast to move generally west-northwestward within the next five days.
It is more likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes on Saturday evening or Sunday early morning.
