NORTHERN and Metro Cebu, Metro Manila and several other areas in Luzon and the Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Typhoon Tisoy (international name Kammuri) inched closer to the country.

Areas under TCWS No. 1 can expect winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour (kph) in the next 36 hours. At this speed, wind can break tree branches and damage structures made of light materials. Pre-school classes are automatically suspended.

The typhoon is forecast to cut a wide swath through Luzon and central Philippines. Areas under TCWS No. 1 are:

• Aurora,
• Eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Cabanatuan City, Cabiao, Gabaldon, Gapan City, General Mamerto Natividad, General Tinio, Jaen, Laur, Pantabangan, Peñaranda, Rizal, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa),
• Rizal,
• Bulacan,
• Laguna,
• Cavite,
• Batangas,
• Metro Manila,
• Oriental Mindoro,
• Quezon including Polillo Islands,
• Camarines Norte,
• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Island,
• Marinduque,
• Romblon
• Aklan,
• Capiz,
• Antique,
• Iloilo,
• Guimaras,
• Northern portion of Negros Occidental (Bacolod City, Bago City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Escalante City, La Carlota City, Manapla, Murcia, Pulupandan, Sagay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, San Enrique, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, Valladolid, Victorias City),
• Northern and Metro Cebu,
• Biliran,
• Leyte,
• Southern Leyte,
• Dinagat Islands, and
• Siargao Island

Four more provinces, meanwhile, have been placed under TCWS No. 2 in addition to the three areas listed in a previous Pagasa advisory. The provinces of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar may experience winds of 61 to 120 kph in the next 24 hours.

Such strong winds can topple utility posts, cause banana trees to lean and even rip off roofs, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Classes from pre-school up to high school are automatically suspended.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, December 1, Typhoon Tisoy was located at 595 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

It has maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

It slowed down a bit as it continued to move westward at 20 kph.

Tisoy is forecast to make landfall over Bicol between Monday evening, December 2, and Tuesday, December 3 early morning.

The weather bureau earlier warned residents of Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions of flooding because Tisoy is expected to bring heavy rains.

Between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, continuous heavy to intense rains may be expected over Bicol region.

Occasional to frequent heavy rains will be experienced in the Samar provinces and Biliran while moderate to occasional heavy rains will prevail over Romblon, Marinduque, and Quezon. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains are expected over Cagayan Valley.

Pagasa warned of a possible storm surge of more than three meters over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, and up to three meters in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Quezon, and Sorsogon.

"Sea travel is risky, especially for small seacraft, over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, the seaboards of northern and Central Luzon, the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao due to prevailing or forecast rough sea conditions," the bureau added.

The weather bureau modified its storm warning system to emphasize wind speed, thus the name Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal from the previous Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal.

The agency also issues separate advisories for heavy rainfall, storm surge, flood and gale warning, among others. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)