MORE areas in the country have been placed under storm signals as Tropical Storm “Paeng” accelerated west northwestward Friday morning, October 28, 2022, while maintaining its strength.
As of 10 a.m., the center of Paeng was located at 220 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar or 305 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. It was packing maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 992 hPa.
The storm was moving west northwestward at 25 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said strong to gale-force winds may extend outwards up to 480 kilometers from the center of Paeng.
Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 in Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the central and southern portions of Quezon (Atimonan, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Lopez, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco), and Marinduque in Luzon; and Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, the northeastern portion of Leyte (Tacloban City, Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo), and Biliran in the Visayas.
TCWS 1 was raised over these areas:
LUZON
Metro Manila, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, the southeastern portion of Tarlac (Concepcion, La Paz), the central and southern portions of Nueva Ecija (City of Gapan, San Leonardo, Santo Domingo, Rizal, San Isidro, Laur, Zaragoza, Llanera, Aliaga, Palayan City, Gabaldon, General Mamerto Natividad, Cabanatuan City, Quezon, San Antonio, General Tinio, Santa Rosa, Pe, Jaen, Licab, Bongabon, Cabiao, Talavera), the southern portion of Aurora (Dingalan, San Luis, Maria Aurora, Baler), Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, the rest of Quezon including Pollilo Islands, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Calamian Islands
VISAYAS
The rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern and central portions of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, City of Bogo, Borbon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Catmon, Tuburan, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Toledo City, City of Talisay, City of Naga, Pinamungahan, Minglanilla, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, City of Carcar, Barili, Sibonga, Dumanjug, Argao, Alcantara, Moalboal, Ronda, Badian, Dalaguete, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Bohol, the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, Cadiz City, City of Escalante, Manapla, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Silay City, City of Talisay, Murcia, Bacolod City, Bago City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, La Carlota City, La Castellana, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Isabela, San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Toboso, Binalbagan, City of Himamaylan), the northern portion of Negros Oriental (City of Guihulngan, Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan), Guimaras, Aklan, the northern and central portions of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Laua-An, Bugasong, Valderrama, Patnongon, San Remigio, Caluya Islands), Capiz, and the northern and central portions of Iloilo (Calinog, New Lucena, Maasin, Estancia, Batad, Oton, Concepcion, Pavia, Duelas, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Ajuy, Iloilo City, Anilao, San Dionisio, San Miguel, Mina, Santa Barbara, Barotac Viejo, Leganes, Carles, Dingle, Zarraga, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Alimodian, Dumangas, San Rafael, San Enrique, Badiangan, Banate, City of Passi, Pototan, Lambunao, Lemery, Sara, Janiuay, Leon, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Igbaras, Guimbal)
MINDANAO
Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, City of Tandag, Bayabas, Tago, Cagwait) and the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago)
Pagasa said that today, October 28, until early morning Saturday, October 29, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be experienced over Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, while there will be moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Quezon, Mimaropa, Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula, Barmm, Northern Mindanao, and the rest of Visayas.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are possible over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, and the rest of Calabarzon and Mindanao.
Pagasa also said that winds may reach gale-force strength during the passage of Paeng within any of the areas where TCWS 2 is hoisted, while strong winds may be experienced within any of the areas where TCWS 1is hoisted throughout the entire passage of the cyclone.
“Per latest track and intensity forecast, the highest wind signal that will likely be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 3 in anticipation of storm-force conditions associated with Paeng,” said Pagasa.
It added that the surge of the northeast monsoon enhanced will also bring strong winds with gusts reaching gale-force strength over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Provinces, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan, the eastern portions of Isabela, and the northern portion of Apayao.
Paeng was forecast to continue moving west northwestward through Sunday.
“On the forecast track, this tropical cyclone may make landfall over Catanduanes by tomorrow early morning. Afterwards, it will traverse the northern portion of Camarines Sur, then the eastern portion of Camarines Norte. By Sunday morning, the center of Paeng may make another landfall over the east coast of Quezon (including Polillo Islands) or Aurora,” said Pagasa.
Paeng was also forecast to further intensify while moving over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea and may reach severe tropical storm category within 24 hours.
Due to a landfall scenario over Bicol Region, it is less likely to reach typhoon category and there is an increasing likelihood that the cyclone may remain a severe tropical storm, the weather bureau added. (LMY)