Paeng now a Severe Tropical Storm; Signal No. 3 up in several Bicol towns

Paeng now a Severe Tropical Storm; Signal No. 3 up in Bicol towns

MANILA, Philippines — Paeng intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm early Saturday morning and was last seen over the waters of Virac, Catanduanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Pagasa’s update as of 2:00 a.m. showed that Paeng now packed maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 130 kph.

It has started to move faster, still on a west-northwest track at a speed of 30 kph.

Paeng intensifying into a severe tropical storm means Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is now in effect over the following areas in Bicol Region and Quezon province:

Meanwhile, the following areas are under Signal No. 2:

Luzon

Visayas

Signal No. 1 was also hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon

Visayas

Mindanao

Pagasa warned that on Saturday morning, heavy to intense rains with at times torrential rains are likely to prevail in the entire Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Quezon province including Pollilo Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro.

During the same time period, moderate to heavy rains with at times intense rains may occur over Metro Manila, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Aurora, Bulacan, Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Northern Samar, Negros Oriental, Cebu, and the rest of Calabarzon and Eastern Visayas.

Light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains are also possible over Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan, and the rest of Visayas.

Paeng’s forecast track still puts it in a direct hit over Quezon province, and then Metro Manila.

Pagasa expects the cyclone to hit the National Capital Region as a weakened tropical storm between Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, before emerging over Manila Bay.

As it moves over warmer seas in the West Philippine Sea, it would re-intensify into a severe tropical storm.

READ: Paeng may make landfall in either CamSur, Albay, or Catanduanes — Pagasa

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