SEVERE Tropical Storm Paeng has maintained its strength after it made its fifth landfall in Sariaya, Quezon at 1:40 p.m. Saturday, October 29, 2022.
Paeng first hit land at 1:10 a.m. Saturday in Virac, Catanduanes, followed by another in Caramoan, Camarines Sur (1:40 a.m.), then in Buenavista, Quezon (6 a.m.), and in Santa Cruz, Marinduque at 8:40 a.m.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 4 p.m. Saturday, the center of Paeng was located in the vicinity of San Pablo City, Laguna.
It was packing maximum winds of 95 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 160 km/h, and central pressure of 985 hPa. It was moving northwestward at 20 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 3 remained in effect in some areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila, Bataan, the southern portion of Zambales (Olongapo City, Subic, Castillejos, San Antonio), the northern and central portions of Quezon (Pitogo, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Infanta, Tiaong, Unisan, Plaridel, San Antonio, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Mauban, Dolores, General Nakar, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan) including Pollilo Islands, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, the northwestern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Abra de Ilog) including Lubang Islands, and the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan).
TCWS 2 was hoisted over the southern portion of Aurora (San Luis, Baler, Dingalan, Maria Aurora), Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, the rest of Zambales, the western portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Milaor, Camaligan, Pili, San Fernando, Magarao, Minalabac, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Canaman, Gainza, Sipocot, Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Pasacao, Cabusao, Libmanan, Pamplona), the rest of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Occidental Mindoro, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Camarines Norte, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon.
TCWS 1 was raised over Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, La Union, Kalinga, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, the rest of Aurora, Catanduanes, the rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, and the northern portion of Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli, Roxas, San Vicente) including Calamian Islands and Cuyo Islands in Luzon; and Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Oras, Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Dolores, Can-Avid), the northern portion of Leyte (Tunga, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Calubian, Leyte, Carigara, Babatngon, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Villaba, Palompon, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Capoocan, Alangalang, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo), Biliran, the northern and central portions of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Santa Rita, Villareal, Zumarraga, Matuguinao, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Calbayog City, Talalora, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, Santo Nino, Tagapul-An, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Daram, Paranas, Hinabangan, Calbiga), 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, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Lapu-Lapu City, Aloguinsan, Minglanilla, City of Talisay, City of Naga, San Fernando, City of Carcar, Barili) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, 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 (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, City of Guihulngan, Jimalalud, Tayasan), Guimaras, Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique in the Visayas.
Pagasa has lifted the TCWS in other areas in the country.
In its 5 p.m. Saturday advisory, Pagasa said Paeng was forecast to track west northwestward until Sunday morning, October 30.
Based on the forecast track, the center of the storm will traverse the Cavite-Batangas area, then will cross the southern portion of Bataan.
Pagasa said Paeng may maintain its strength while traversing the Luzon landmass and further intensification is likely once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea. (LMY)