Heavy rains expected in NCR, other parts of Luzon Saturday night as ‘Rolly’ nears

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila and parts of Luzon will face the fury of Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) Saturday night  as the weather system maintains its strength while moving west-southwest over the Philippine sea. 

In its 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that beginning Saturday night, heavy to intense rains will be experienced in Metro Manila, Bicol region, Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Central Luzon, Marinduque, and the northern portions of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro. 

Moderate to heavy rains, meanwhile, will also be experienced over the Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino, Pagasa said. 

The weather bureau warned of rough seas, storm surges and possible flashfloods and landslides in affected areas.

Pagasa reported that “Rolly” was last spotted 540 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour near the center (kph), gustiness of up to 265 kph and moving west at 20 kph. 

State meteorologists said that the eye of “Rolly” is forecast to pass very close to Catanduanes in the early hours of Sunday, then over the Calaguas Islands and very close to mainland Camarines provinces Sunday morning, and over Polillo Islands and mainland Quezon Sunday afternoon or evening. 

“However, due to the proximity of the forecast track to Bicol region, a landfall scenario over Catanduanes and Camarines provinces is not ruled out,” Pagasa said. 

The state weather bureau added that it is not ruling out the possibility that “Rolly” may intensify to a super typhoon.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• the southeastern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Catanauan, Buenavista, Lopez, Guinayangan, Calauag, Tagkawayan) 

TCWS No. 1, meanwhile, is raised over the following areas: 

• The rest of Masbate including Ticao Island
• the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Cavite
• Batangas
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
• Oriental Mindoro
• Metro Manila
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• Zambales
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Benguet
• Ifugao
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• the southern portion of Isabela (Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, San Mariano, Palanan, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Cordon, Santiago City, Ramon, San Isidro, Angadanan, Alicia, Cauayan City, Cabatuan, San Mateo)
• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Samar (Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Nino, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao)
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Taft, Can-Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo)
• the northern portion of Biliran (Kawayan, Maripipi)

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