Signal No. 3 in 4 areas as Typhoon Jolina whips Samar

MANILA, Philippines — Four areas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 as Typhoon Jolina (international name: Conson) crossed the island municipalities of Samar province, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tuesday.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, Pagasa said “Typhoon Jolina has emerged over the Samar Sea and is now crossing the island municipalities of Samar province.”

Moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), the typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gusts of up to 180 kph, according to the state weather bureau. 

Pagasa said the center of the eye of the typhoon was estimated to be over the coastal waters of Sto. Niño, Samar.

Below are areas placed under TCWS No. 3 where destructive typhoon-force winds are prevailing or are expected within 18 hours:

– eastern portion of Masbate (Pio V. Corpuz, Palanas, Cataingan, Placer, Dimasalang, Uson, Cawayan, Esperanza, Mobo) including Ticao Island

– extreme western portion of Northern Samar (San Vicente, Capul, San Antonio, San Isidro)

– northern portion of Biliran (Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran, Maripipi, Almeria)

– northern and central portions of Samar (City of Catbalogan, Tarangnan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Talalora, Daram, Zumarraga, San Sebastian, Hinabangan, Pagsanghan, Santo Niño, Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santa Margarita, Gandara, San Jorge, Calbayog City)

Pagasa also raised TCWS No. 2 in the following areas where damaging gale-force to storm-force winds are prevailing or expected within the next 24 hours:

– Albay

– Sorsogon

– rest of Masbate including Burias Island

– western and southern portions of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Lupi, Ragay, Libmanan, Sipocot, Cabusao, Pasacao, Pamplona, Gainza, Camaligan, Canaman, Magarao, Bombon, Naga City, Pili, Ocampo, Iriga City, Sagñay, Buhi, Milaor, San Fernando, Minalabac, Bula, Nabua, Baao, Balatan, Bato, Calabanga)

– eastern portion of Marinduque (Torrijos, Santa Cruz)

– southeastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Francisco, San Andres, Catanauan, Calauag, General Luna, Lopez, Macalelon)

– eastern portion of Romblon (San Fernando, Magdiwang, Cajidiocan, Romblon, Banton, Corcuera)

– rest of Biliran

– western portion of Northern Samar (Silvino Lobos, Lope de Vega, Catarman, Bobon, San Jose, Rosario, Lavezares, Biri, Allen, Victoria, Mondragon)

– rest of Samar

– central and southern portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, General Macarthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, Salcedo, Mercedes, Guiuan, Balangiga, Lawaan, Maslog, Dolores, Giporlos)

– northern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Leyte, Villaba, Matag-Ob, Ormoc City, Kananga, Carigara, Jaro, Dagami, Julita, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, Pastrana, Santa Fe, Tacloban City, Barugo, San Miguel, Alangalang, Dulag, Tunga, Babatngon, Capoocan)

The following areas are placed under TCWS No. 1 where strong winds are prevailing or expected within the next 36 hours:

– Catanduanes

– rest of Camarines Sur

– Camarines Norte

– rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands

– Laguna

– eastern portion of Batangas (Santo Tomas, Lipa City, San Jose, Batangas City, Ibaan, Rosario, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Taysan, Lobo, City of Tanauan, Malvar, Balete, Mataasnakahoy, Cuenca, San Pascual)

– rest of Marinduque

– rest of Romblon

– northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro (City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera)

– rest of Northern Samar

– rest of Eastern Samar

– rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte

– northern portion of Cebu (Carmen, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Borbon, Tabogon, San Remigio, City of Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Camotes and Bantayan Islands

– northeastern portion of Iloilo (Concepcion, Sara, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Carles, Balasan)

– extreme northern portion of Capiz (Pilar, Panay, Roxas City)

Heavy rainfall

In the next 24 hours, Jolina may bring heavy to intense and at times torrential rains over Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, and Masbate, according to Pagasa.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy with and at times intense rains are also possible over the southern portion of Quezon, Romblon, Marinduque and the rest of Bicol region and the Visayas.

“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards,” Pagasa said.

The typhoon will also bring rough to very rough seas (2.5 to 5.0 meters) over the seaboards of areas where TCWS No. 2 and 3 are in effect. Sea travel is risky for all types of seacraft over these waters.

Track and intensity outlook

Within the next 12 hours, the typhoon is expected to “move over the Samar Sea and pass over or close to the island municipalities of Samar and the northern coast of Biliran before making landfall in the vicinity of Masbate,” Pagasa said.

During this period, Jolina may weaken into a severe tropical storm, Pagasa added.

After this, Jolina will then move northwestward towards Burias Island and the vicinity of Ragay Gulf before making another landfall in the vicinity of southeastern Quezon on Tuesday night or Wednesday early morning. Pagasa said the weather disturbance may further weaken during this period.

By Wednesday afternoon, the typhoon will briefly emerge over Lamon Bay before making landfall in the vicinity of northern Quezon.

“Throughout the remainder of tomorrow and into tomorrow morning, the tropical cyclone is forecast to cross Central Luzon (roughly to the east and north of Metro Manila). Frictional effects during its traverse of Luzon landmass will weaken ‘Jolina’ down to tropical storm category,” Pagasa noted.

The typhoon is forecast to emerge over the West Philippine Sea before noon on Thursday.

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