As Pepito nears super typhoon status, Signal No. 3 raised in more areas

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal due to Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) is forecast to become a super typhoon before landfall on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Photo from Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) is forecast to become a super typhoon in a few hours, so more areas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 early Saturday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 a.m. cyclone bulletin that Pepito is predicted to bring wind speeds of up to 117 kilometers per hour (kph) that may cause moderate to significant threats to life and property in many areas of Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas even before its landfall.

Hence, Pagasa hoisted TCWS No. 3 over the following areas:

Luzon

• Catanduanes
• Eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Tiwi, Malinao)
• Eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, San Jose, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa)
• Easternmost portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz)

Visayas

• Eastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan)
• Northernmost portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad)

Pepito was last spotted 220 kilometers (km) east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar or 305 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph, according to the state weather agency.

It was moving west-northwestward at 25 kph.

READ: Pepito may become super typhoon before landfall in Catanduanes

Pagasa also said that wind speeds greater than 62 kph to 88 kph brought by Pepito may be expected in at least 24 hours in the following areas placed under TCWS No. 2:

Luzon

• Rest of Camarines Sur
• Rest of Albay
• Rest of Sorsogon
• Ticao Island
• Camarines Norte
• Easternmost portion of mainland Quezon (Tagkawayan)
• Pollilo Islands

Visayas

• Northern portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan)
• Northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan)
• Rest of Northern Samar

These locations were warned against minor to moderate impacts to life and property due to the tropical cyclone.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Pepito

TCWS No. 1 were also raised over the following areas due to Pepito:

Luzon

• Rest of Masbate including Burias Island
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Rest of Quezon
• Laguna
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Batangas
• Metro Manila
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Isabela
• Central and southern portions of Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Rizal, Santo Niño, Lasam, Gattaran, Baggao, Amulung, Alcala, Piat, Lal-Lo, Allacapan)
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Ilocos Sur
• Abra
• Southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao, Pudtol, Flora)
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet

Visayas

• Rest of Eastern Samar
• The rest of Samar
• Biliran
• Northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo, Abuyog, Javier, City of Baybay, Mahaplag)
• Northeastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago)
• Northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
• Northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles)

Mindanao

• Northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon)

These places may expect 39 kph to 61 kph wind speeds, which may cause minimal to minor threat to life and property.