SUPER Typhoon Egay has maintained its strength as it continued to threaten Northern Luzon Tuesday afternoon, July 25, 2023, said the state weather bureau.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the center of the super typhoon was located at 190 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (km/h), gusts of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 925 hPa. It was moving northwestward at 20 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 5 over the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island).
There is extreme threat to life and property in areas under TCWS 5, said Pagasa, as extreme impacts from typhoon-force winds may be experienced by residents in these areas.
TCWS 4 was raised over the northern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Santa Praxedes) and the rest of Babuyan Islands in Luzon.
Under TCWS 3 were the northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Santo Tomas, Cabagan, Tumauini), the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Kalinga (Rizal, Pinukpuk, Balbalan), Batanes and the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Lacub, Danglas).
TCWS 2 was raised over the rest of Isabela, northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao), Quirino, the rest of Kalinga, northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Solano, Bayombong), Ilocos Sur, the rest of Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Kibungan, Atok) and northern portion of La Union (Bangar, Sudipen, Luna, Balaoan, Santol).
Quezon including Polillo Islands, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Benguet, the rest of La Union, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Marinduque were placed under TCWS 1.
Pagasa said that Egay and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will continue to bring gusty conditions over areas not under any wind signal in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the northern portions of Northern Mindanao and Caraga), especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds.
It also said that there is a high risk of storm surge, which may cause flooding in the low-lying and exposed coastal areas of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
Pagasa said that based on its forecast track, Egay will move west northwestward in the next 24 hours before turning generally northwestward and cross the Luzon Strait.
It was forecast to make landfall or pass very close to Babuyan Islands-northeastern mainland Cagayan area between late evening Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
“Slight northward or southward shift in this segment of the track (but within the forecast confidence cone) may result in a landfall or close approach over northern mainland Cagayan or Batanes,” Pagasa added.
After passing the Babuyan Islands, Egay will turn northwestward or north northwestward and pass over the waters south of Taiwan. It was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning, July 27.
“Outside the PAR region, Egay will cross the Taiwan Strait and make landfall in the vicinity of Fujian, China on Friday morning, July 28,” the weather bureau said. (LMY)