THE state weather bureau hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 3 over Catanduanes in Luzon, as Typhoon "Rolly" moved closer to the country Saturday morning, October 31.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Rolly was located at 480 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes as of 10 a.m. Saturday.
The typhoon was packing maximum winds of 215 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 265 km/h as it moved west southwestward at 20 km/h.
Based the forecast track, Rolly's center is forecast to pass very close to Catanduanes, the Calaguas Islands, and very close to mainland Camarines Provinces Sunday morning (November 1), and over Polillo Islands and mainland Quezon Sunday afternoon.
However, due to the proximity of the forecast track to Bicol Region, Pagasa had not ruled out a landfall scenario over Catanduanes and Camarines Provinces.
"Nevertheless, violent winds and intense rainfall associated with the inner rainband-eyewall region will be experienced over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and the northern portion of Camarines Sur tomorrow early morning through afternoon and over Quezon and the southern portion of Aurora tomorrow afternoon through evening," the weather bureau said.
After crossing Central Luzon, the center of Rolly is forecast to exit the mainland Luzon landmass on Monday morning, November 2.
As of 10 a.m. Saturday, Catanduanes remained as the only area in Luzon under TCWS Number 2.
TCWS Number 2 (with 61-120 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 24 hours) was hoisted over the central and southern portions of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Buenavista, Lopez, Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Quezon, Alabat, Perez) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias and Ticao Islands, and Marinduque in Luzon, and Northern Samar in the Visayas.
Areas under TCWS Number 1 are the rest of Masbate, the rest of Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the southern portion of Isabela (Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, San Mariano, Palanan, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Cordon, Santiago City, Ramon, San Isidro, Angadanan, Alicia, Cauayan City, Cabatuan, San Mateo), northern portion of Samar (Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Nino, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao), the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Taft, Can-Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo), and Biliran.
Pagasa said Rolly is likely to remain a typhoon category (185-205 km/h) by the time it grazes Bicol Region and makes landfall over Quezon.
During its traverse over Luzon, Rolly is forecast to weaken considerably and emerge as a severe tropical storm or minimal typhoon over the West Philippine Sea.
Pagasa said that beginning Sunday early morning, the passage of Rolly will bring heavy to intense rains over Metro Manila, Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Marinduque, and the northern portions of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro.
Moderate to heavy rains will be experienced over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Romblon, and the rest of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro.
Flooding (including flash floods), rain-induced landslides, and sediment-laden streamflows (i.e. lahar) may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.
Destructive typhoon-force winds will also be experienced in areas under TCWS Number 3, damaging gale- to storm-force winds in areas under TCWS 2, and strong breeze to near gale conditions in areas under TCWS 1.
Based on the intensity forecast, the highest possible wind signal to be raised will be TCWS 4 (for very destructive typhoon-force winds).
Elsewhere, Pagasa said strong breeze to near gale conditions due to the northeasterlies will be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and the coastal and mountainous areas of Cagayan and Isabela.
Aside from Rolly, Pagasa is also monitoring Tropical Depression "Atsani," which was located at 1,655 kilometers east of Southern Luzon Saturday morning.
Atsani has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 70 km/h. It is moving northwestward at 25 km/h and is forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility Sunday afternoon.
"However, it remains less likely to affect any portion of the country over the next two to three days. It is likely to re-intensify into a tropical storm in the next 24 hours," added Pagasa. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)