‘Quinta’ now a severe tropical storm

STATE weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Quinta” (Molave) intensified into a severe tropical storm at 8 a.m. Sunday, October 25, 2020.

With maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph, “Quinta” threatens Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon provinces in Bicol region, where it was forecast to make landfall.

As of 10 a.m., it was spotted at 180 km. east of Virac, Catanduanes and was moving westward at 25 kph. Pagasa said it will further intensify into a typhoon by Tuesday, but was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday afternoon, October 27.

The weather bureau said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected Sunday until Monday morning over Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Calamian Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Aklan and Antique.

The tail-end of a frontal system will likewise bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

These two weather systems will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Mimaropa.

Flooding (including flash floods), rain-induced landslides, and sediment-laden streamflows (i.e. lahars) may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

Pagasa has placed the following areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) no. 2 (61 to 120 kph winds prevailing or expected in 24 hours):

• Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands in Bicol;
• Central and southern portions of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Dolores, Candelaria, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Perez, Alabat, Calauag, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Gumaca, Unisan, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Catanauan, General Luna, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco);
• Batangas
• Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island; and
• Northern Samar

• The rest of Quezon, Laguna, Rizal and Cavite;
• Metro Manila;
• Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, the southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, Cabangan);
• Calamian Islands;
• Northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Tagapul-An, Santo Nino, Almagro, Santa Margarita, Gandara, San Jose de Buan, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Jorge, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas), the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Can-Avid, Taft);
• Northern portion of Capiz (Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City, Panay, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas), Aklan, northern portion of Antique (Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi) and the northeastern portion of Iloilo (Batad, Balasan, Estancia, Carles).