QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Severe Storm Marce (Yinxing) has turned into a typhoon, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 10 a.m., Nov. 5, weather update.
PAGASA raised warnings of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and gale-force winds along seacoasts of areas under Signal No. 1 as Marce was moving 30 kilometers per hour (kph) in its west-northwestward direction with its center located at 640 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora.
It packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
Signal No. 1 is still up over the following areas.
· Batanes;
· Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands;
· the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Palanan, Dinapigue, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Tumauini, Santo Tomas, Ilagan City, Divilacan, San Mariano);
· the northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan, Flora, Pudtol); and
· the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar).
At the press conference on Typhoon Marce on Tuesday, Nov. 5, PAGASA said that the highest wind signal that could be raised over the Babuyan Group of Islands and Batanes province is Signal No. 4.
Heavy rainfall is expected Tuesday in the province of Cagayan, and by Wednesday, Nov. 6, the province will experience heavy to intense rainfall as Marce moves closer to the area. Batanes and Apayao will experience moderate to heavy rains.
By Thursday, Nov. 7, the provinces of Apayao and Cagayan will experience intense to torrential rainfall (200 mm).
Meanwhile, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Batanes will experience intense rainfall, and Isabela, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, and Mt. Province will have moderate to heavy rainfall.
Severe winds are also expected Tuesday in Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte.
On Wednesday, Ilocos, Camrines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes will experience winds, PAGASA said.
Some areas in Cagayan suspended classes on Tuesday, Nov. 5, due to the possible effects of Marce.
Meanwhile, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chairperson and Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that concerned agencies are closely monitoring the situation under threat of Typhoon Marce.
Gale warning
Earlier in the day, a gale warning was hoisted over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon.
But the seaboard of the eastern section of Southern Luzon is moderate to strong and moving northeastward, while coastal waters will be moderate to rough.
Landfall
Generally, Marce will be moving west-northwestward from Tuesday until Wednesday morning before decelerating and turning westward over the Philippine Sea east of Extreme Northern Luzon.
It is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of the Babuyan Islands or over the northern portion of mainland Cagayan on Thursday evening, Nov. 7, or Friday, Nov. 8, early morning.
But PAGASA said that the forecast track for Marce is still uncertain and could still change and bring the landfall point to the mainland Cagayan-Isabela area.
Marce is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday evening (Nov. 8), or early Saturday morning of Nov. 9, according to PAGASA. (PIA DMD)
