(Eagle News)–Signal No. 5 is now in effect over Catanduanes and Albay as Super Typhoon “Rolly” made landfall over Bato, Catanduanes.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said apart from the two provinces, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, particularly Caramoan, Presentacion, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Calabanga, Siruma, Tigaon, Bombon, Magarao, Camaligan, Gainza, Canaman, Milaor, Naga City, Minalabac, Balatan, Bula, Pili, Ocampo, Goa, San Jose, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Baao, Nabua, and Bato are under the tropical cyclone wind signal.
Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, the northern portion of Sorsogon (Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Sorsogon City, Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Juban, Casiguran, Magallanes), Burias Island, the central and southern portions of Quezon (Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Unisan, Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, Catanauan, General Luna, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Buenavista, Lopez, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez), Marinduque, and the northern portion of Romblon (Concepcion, Corcuera, Banton) are under Signal No. 4, while the rest of Sorsogon, the northern portion of Masbate (Mobo, Masbate City, Milagros, Uson, Baleno, Aroroy, Mandaon) including Ticao Island, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Island, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, the southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, Olongapo City, Subic, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, Botolan, Cabangan), the central portion of Romblon (Calatrava, San Andres, San Agustin, Romblon, Magdiwang, San Fernando, Cajidiocan), the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Abra de Ilog, Paluan) including Lubang Island, and the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bongabong, Gloria, Bansud, Pinamalayan, Socorro, Pola, Victoria, Naujan, Calapan City, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera) in Luzon, and Northern Samar in Visayas are under Signal No. 3.
The following areas are under Signal No. 2: In Luzon, Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Romblon, and the rest of Masbate; and in Visayas, the northern portion of Samar (Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Tarangnan, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Calbayog City, Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An), the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Julian, Sulat, Taft, Can-Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad), the extreme northern portion of Antique (Pandan, Libertad, Caluya), and the northwestern portion of Aklan (Buruanga, Malay, Nabas, Ibajay).
Mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Calamian Islands in Luzon; and the rest of the northern portion of Antique (Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Laua-An), the rest of Aklan, Capiz, the northern portion of Iloilo (Lemery, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles), the northern portion of Cebu (San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan Islands, Biliran, the rest of Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, and the northern portion of Leyte (San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Matag-Ob, Palompon, Ormoc City, Pastrana, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Kananga, Capoocan, Carigara, Jaro, Tunga, Barugo, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Tacloban City, Babatngon, San Miguel) in Visayas are under Signal No. 1.
PAGASA said the center of “Rolly” made landfall in the vicinity of Bato, Catanduanes at 4:50 a.m., and is headed west southwest at 25 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 225 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 280 kph.
“Within the next 12 hours, catastrophic violent winds and intense to torrential rainfall associated with the region of the eyewall and inner rainbands of the typhoon will be experienced over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, the northern portion of Sorsogon and the central and southern portions of Quezon. This a particularly dangerous situation for these areas,” PAGASA said.
According to the weather bureau, after crossing the southern portion of Catanduanes, the center of the typhoon will cross Lagonoy Gulf and make landfall over the southern portion of Camarines Sur or the northern portion of Albay this morning.
The eye will then cross the Camarines Provinces before heading towards CALABARZON this afternoon.
“Rolly” is expected to exit the mainland Luzon landmass and emerge over the Philippine Sea tomorrow early morning, and is expected to weaken as it crosses Southern Luzon, but will come out as a typhoon over the West Philippine Sea.
Today, PAGASA said heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Bicol Region, CALABARZON, Metro Manila, Marinduque, Romblon, Mindoro Provinces, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and the eastern portions of mainland Cagayan and Isabela are expected, while moderate to heavy rains with at times intense rains will be experienced over Cordillera Administrative Region, Leyte, and the rest of mainland Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the rest of Luzon and Visayas.
“Very destructive to devastating typhoon-force winds will be experienced in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) #4 and #5, destructive typhoon-force winds in areas under TCWS #3, damaging gale- to storm-force winds in areas under TCWS #2, and strong breeze to near gale conditions in areas under TCWS #1,” the weather bureau said.
Strong breeze to near gale conditions due to the northeasterlies, on the other hand, are forecast over the rest of Northern Luzon that are not under Signal No. 1.
According to PAGASA, there is a “high risk” of a storm surge of more than 3.0 meters over the coastal areas of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte, and the northern coastal areas of Quezon including Polillo Islands and Camarines Sur.
Storm surges of up to 3.0 meters are possible over the coastal areas of Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, the southeastern coastal area of Batangas (facing Tayabas Bay), and most of the southern coastal areas of Quezon.
Storm surges of up to 2.0 meters, on the other hand, may take place over the coastal areas of Marinduque, Lubang Island, Albay, Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands), Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar and the remaining coastal areas of Quezon, Camarines Sur, and Batangas.
“Moreover, there is also a moderate to high risk of seiche or storm surge over the coastal areas surrounding Laguna de Bay and Taal Lake,” PAGASA said.
Today, “rough to phenomenal seas” are expected over the seaboard of areas where tropical cyclone wind signals are in effect.
Rough to very rough seas, or those measuring 2.5 to 5.0 meters, are expected over the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas that are not under storm signals, and Caraga.
That means sea travel is risky for all types of seacraft over these waters.
Moderate to rough seas are expected over remaining seaboards of the country.