SEVERE Tropical Storm “Jolina” (Conson) further weakened Tuesday afternoon, September 7, as it moved over the Sibuyan Sea.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the center of Jolina was located at 60 kilometers west northwest of Masbate City, Masbate or 90 kilometers east of Romblon, Romblon.
The tropical cyclone was packing maximum winds of 100 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 125 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa. It was west northwestward at 15 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 has been hoisted over the central and southern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Mulanay, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Calauag, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Atimonan, Plaridel, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Mauban, City of Tayabas, Sampaloc, Lucban, Pagbilao, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Real), the southern portion of Rizal (Binangonan, Cardona, Jala-Jala, Pililla), Laguna, the southeastern portion of Batangas (Calaca, Laurel, Lemery, Talisay, San Nicolas, Balete, City of Tanauan, Santo Tomas, Malvar, Lipa City, Mataasnakahoy, Cuenca, Agoncillo, Taal, Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, San Jose, Batangas City, Ibaan, Taysan, Lobo, Rosario, San Juan, Padre Garcia, San Pascual, Bauan, Mabini, San Luis, Tingloy), the northeastern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Gloria), Marinduque, Romblon, Sorsogon, the western portion of Albay (Polangui, Oas, City of Ligao, Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Legazpi City, Manito, Jovellar, Pio Duran, Libon), Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, the western and southern portion of Camarines Sur (Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Iriga City, Baao, Bula, Ocampo, Pili, Naga City, Canaman, Pamplona, Milaor, Gainza, Camaligan, San Fernando, Minalabac, Pasacao, Libmanan, Magarao, Cabusao, Bombon, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego), and the western portion of Camarines Norte (Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Santa Elena, Labo, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz).
Under TCWS 1 are the southern portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, San Luis, Dingalan), the southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan), the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Aritao, Santa Fe), Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, the rest of Rizal, the rest of Quezon, Cavite, the rest of Batangas, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island,the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the rest of Albay.
Also under TCWS 1 are the western portion of Northern Samar (Pambujan, San Roque, Silvino Lobos, Mondragon, Lope de Vega, Catarman, Bobon, Victoria, San Jose, Rosario, Lavezares, Allen, Biri, San Isidro, Capul, San Antonio), the northwestern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Santo Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-An), Biliran, the northwestern portion of Leyte (San Isidro, Calubian, Leyte, Tabango, Villaba), the northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Bantayan Islands, Tabogon), the northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona), Capiz, Aklan, the northern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Sara, Concepcion, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, City of Passi, Bingawan, San Enrique, Banate, Estancia), and the northwestern portion of Antique (Caluya).
TCWS 1 in other areas was lifted.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that in the next 24 hours, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be experienced over Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Southern Quezon, Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, Aurora, the rest of Calabarzon, and Western Visayas.
Pagasa said Jolina will continue to move generally west northwestward in the next 12 hours, traversing the Sibuyan Sea, heading towards the Southern Quezon-Marinduque area.
The center of Jolina may make landfall or pass near over Marinduque-Southern Quezon area Wednesday morning, September 8.
“Afterwards, it will traverse over Tayabas Bay and will make its another landfall over the southwestern portion of Quezon by tomorrow afternoon,” said Pagasa.
Throughout the remainder of Wednesday and into Thursday morning, September 9, the tropical cyclone was forecast to traverse Calabarzon (roughly south of Metro Manila) and Central Luzon before exiting the landmass.
Frictional effects during its traverse of Luzon landmass will weaken Jolina down to tropical storm category, added Pagasa. (LMY)