Pagasa turns focus on Siony as Rolly finally exits PAR

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Rolly, internationally known as Goni, finally exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Tuesday night, nearly a day after it was predicted to leave.

Rolly left PAR through the West Philippine Sea border at 11:00 p.m., according to the last severe weather bulletin of the day of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Rolly left behind a trail of destruction, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) estimating infrastructure damage at P5.76 billion. Meanwhile, the death toll stood at 16, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

After entering PAR last Oct. 29 as a severe tropical storm, Rolly quickly intensified, becoming a typhoon overnight and then a super typhoon with wind speeds exceeding 220 kph.

As of now, it stands as 2020’s strongest typhoon to make landfall — drawing comparisons to Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, the strongest cyclone to make landfall in recorded history.

Rolly was initially predicted to hit Aurora and northern Quezon, but it instead deviated from its track, targeting Bicol Region and Southern Luzon instead.

The Bicol provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Catanduanes appeared to be the hardest-hit areas as Rolly barreled into the region at its peak intensity.

With Rolly’s exit, Pagasa turned its focus on monitoring another weather disturbance, Tropical Storm Siony, which was last located 610 km east of Basco, Batanes.

It was expected to hit extreme Northern Luzon, although it still had a wide cone of probability — or range areas where it may move to eventually. It could either move north to Southern Taiwan or move down towards Ilocos Norte and northern Cagayan.

It may make landfall between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, Pagasa said.

[atm]