Tropical cyclone ‘Pepito’ weakened into typhoon on Sunday evening as it crossed over to Nueva Vizcaya after making landfalls in Catanduanes and Aurora over the weekend.
In light of this development, the highest tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) has been lifted but the second highest remained over several parts of Luzon.
State weather bureau PAGASA said ‘Pepito’ is forecast to exit the landmass of Luzon via Pangasinan, La Union, or southern Ilocos Sur by late Sunday night or early morning Monday.
It is expected to significantly weaken during this period, but may re-emerge over the West Philippine Sea. ‘Pepito’ may leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday morning or later.
“It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA said in its advisory.
‘Pepito’ was last tracked in the vicinity of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, moving west northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour. It had maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gusts of up to 275 kph.
The following wind signals remain hoisted across Luzon:
· TCWS No. 4: The central portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora), Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Ifugao (Kiangan, Lamut, Tinoc, Asipulo, Lagawe), Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Alilem, Sugpon, Suyo, Santa Cruz, Tagudin, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo, Galimuyod, Cervantes, Sigay), La Union, the northern and eastern portions of Pangasinan (Sison, Tayug, Binalonan, San Manuel, Asingan, San Quintin, Santa Maria, Natividad, San Nicolas, Balungao, Pozorrubio, Laoac, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Manaoag, City of Urdaneta, Rosales, Umingan, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Villasis, Santo Tomas, Dagupan City, Anda, Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Lingayen, Binmaley, Sual, Labrador), and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao, San Jose City, Carranglan, Science City of Muñoz, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Llanera)
· TCWS No. 3: The southern portion of Isabela (San Agustin, Jones, Echague, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Alicia, San Mateo, Ramon, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Cordon, Dinapigue, Roxas, Aurora, Cabatuan, City of Cauayan, Luna, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Burgos), the rest of Ifugao, Mountain Province, the southern portion of Kalinga (Pasil, Tanudan, Lubuagan, Tinglayan), the southern portion of Abra (Tubo, Luba, Pilar, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Pidigan, Langiden, San Quintin, Bangued, Manabo, Boliney, Peñarrubia, Bucloc, Sallapadan, Bucay), the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Pangasinan, the northern and eastern portions of Tarlac (Paniqui, La Paz, Moncada, City of Tarlac, Gerona, Pura, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Victoria, Camiling, Concepcion, Ramos, San Manuel, Anao), the rest of Nueva Ecija, and the rest of Aurora
· TCWS No. 2: The rest of Isabela, the southwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Enrile, Tuao, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Piat, Rizal), the rest of Kalinga, the southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao), the rest of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, the rest of Tarlac, the northern portion of Bataan (Orani, Abucay, Hermosa, Samal, Dinalupihan), Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, the northeastern portion of Laguna (Kalayaan, Paete, Pangil, Pakil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac), and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands
· TCWS No. 1: The rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Bataan, Cavite, the rest of Laguna, Batangas, the central portion of Quezon (Calauag, Pitogo, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Tiaong, Lopez, Guinayangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Quezon, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Macalelon, Mauban, Dolores, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Tagkawayan), Lubang Islands, and the western portion of Camarines Norte (Santa Elena, Paracale, Labo, Vinzons, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga)
