Mayors in Catanduanes were ordered to conduct mandatory evacuation of residents in coastal areas as tropical storm “Ulysses” approached the province that had just been pummeled by super typhoon “Rolly” last week.
The weather bureau placed the province under tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1.
Ulysses, the country's 21st storm this year, was last estimated 475 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 10 a.m., moving northwest at 15 kms per hour with slightly stronger winds of 75 kph near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph, the weather bureau said.
It is expected to approach Catanduanes and Camarines Norte on Wednesday and is forecast to make landfall over Quezon on Thursday morning, weather forecasters said.
Moderate to heavy rains will begin affecting the Bicol region and portions of Eastern Visayas on Wednesday, they added.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday warned residents in coastal and low-lying areas of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, the Bicol Region, and the entire Visayas against the impact of the approaching Tropical Storm Ulysses.
NDRRMC spokesman Mark Cashean Timbal urged owners and operators of small boats and fishermen to refrain from venturing out, especially if their areas are under a gale warning.
Timbal also urged all residents of areas that might be affected to comply with the preemptive evacuation plan that will be implemented by their barangays, towns, or cities if needed.
Residents can communicate with their local government officials to determine the safe areas for evacuation, he said.
Ulysses intensified as it continued to move northwestward at 15 kph, packing sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2 was in effect over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur and the eastern portion of Camarines Norte.
These areas will be experiencing damaging gale- to storm-force winds, the weather bureau said.
Signal no. 1 was hoisted over Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the eastern portion of Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pamapanga, Bulacan, the central and southern portions of Zambales, Bataan, Quezon, including Polillo Islands, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Camarines Norte, Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island.
Signal no. 1 was also raised in Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar and the northern portion of Eastern Samar.
These areas will have strong breeze to near gale conditions during the passage of the storm.
Ulysses is forecast to intensify into a severe tropical storm and may rapidly intensify into typhoon category as it reaches its peak intensity.