Typhoon Pepito intensifies; wind signals up over more areas

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) continues to “rapidly intensify”, which prompted the state weather bureau to raise  Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals  (TCWS) over more parts of the country Friday afternoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in it 5:00 p.m. update, said Pepito was last located some 465 kilometers (kms) east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hoiur (kph), and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

Pepito was moving spotted west-northwest at 30 kph.

In Pagasa’s earlier bulletin at 11:00 a.m., Pagasa reported that Pepito packed maximum sustained winds of 100 kph and gustiness of up to 125 kph.

Signal No. 2

 Eastern part of Northern Samar

• Mapanas
• Gamay
• Palapag
• Lapinig
• Silvino
• Lobos
• Laoang
• Catubig
• Las Navas
• Pambujan
• Mondragon
• San Roque
• Catarman
• Lope de Vega

 Northern part of Eastern Samar

• Arteche
• Oras
• San Policarpo
• Dolores
• Jipapad
• Maslog
• Can-Avid

 Northeastern part of Samar

• San Jose de Buan
• Matuguinao

The said areas will encounter wind speeds between 62 and 88 kph within the next 24 hours.

Signal No. 1 

Luzon

• Aurora
• Quezon
• The eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Mabitac, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Luisiana, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, San Pablo City, Rizal)
• Marinduque
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate

Visayas

• The rest of Northern Samar
• The rest of Eastern Samar
• The rest of Samar
• Biliran 

 Wind speeds of 39 to 61 kph are expected in the said areas within the next 36 hours.

Tracking Pepito 

Pagasa said Pepito is on track to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes either Saturday evening (Nov. 16) or early Sunday morning (Nov. 17).

It is likely to pass over the Luzon landmass and emerge onto the West Philippine Sea either Sunday evening (Nov. 17) or Monday morning (Nov. 18).

Storm surge alert!!!

Earlier on Friday afternoon, Pagasa raised storm surge warnings over parts of Luzon and the Visayas as Pepito nears.