MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) has intensified further while heading towards Taiwan, the state weather bureau said early Wednesday morning.
In its 5:00 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Carina is expected to intensify steadily and may reach its peak intensity before its landfall over Taiwan “due to favorable environment.”
Carina was spotted Wednesday morning some 290 kilometers (km) northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph while moving northwest at 25 kph.
“Carina is forecast to make landfall over the northern portion of Taiwan this afternoon or early evening. On the track forecast, the typhoon will cross the rugged terrain of Taiwan and exit the Philippine area of responsibility [on Wednesday evening] or [the] early morning [of July 25],” said Pagasa.
Signal No. 2
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised over Batanes, where winds from 62 to 88 kph are expected in the next 24 hours.
TCWS No. 1, meanwhile, is still up over Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Santa Ana, Gonzaga) and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Burgos, Bangui, Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams)
The southwest monsoon or “habagat,” is also expected to bring strong to gale-force winds to the following areas:
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- Metro Manila
- Ilocos Region
- Cordillera Administrative Region
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- The eastern portion of Isabela
- Central Luzon
- Metro Manila
- Mimaropa
- Bicol Region
- Visayas
- Zamboanga Peninsula
- Northern Mindanao