Pepito is now a super typhoon, says Pagasa

]MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) grew into a super typhoon on Saturday morning, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 230 kph.

In the 10 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Pepito was placed 215 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar and moving west-northwest at 25 kph.

Pagasa said Pepito further intensified from typhoon to super typhoon at 8 a.m. Saturday, November 16. The state meteorologist explained that a cyclone is categorized as a super typhoon once its maximum wind speeds reach or exceed 185 kph.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Pepito

Pagasa said in its 8 a.m. bulletin that Pepito will turn into a super typhoon before landfall in Catanduanes either Saturday evening or Sunday early morning, November 17.

Pagasa already hoisted Signal No. 3 over parts of the Bicol Region and the provinces of Northern and Eastern Samar.

The state weather agency said Pepito will cross the Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region before emerging at the West Philippine Sea. Pepito is anticipated to leave Philippine area of responsibility by Monday, November 18.

Earlier, Pagasa said it may raise up to Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 for the super typhoon. Currently, the super typhoon’s wind signals covered areas from Luzon to Mindanao.

As of 10 a.m., November 16, different wind signals remain in effect, as follows:

TCWS No. 3

Luzon

• Catanduanes
• Eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, Santo Domingo, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Tiwi, Malinao)
• Eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, San Jose, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, Siruma)
• 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)

READ: Pepito wind signals cover areas from Luzon to Mindanao

TCWS No. 2

Luzon

• Rest of Camarines Sur
• Rest of Albay
• Rest of Sorsogon
• Ticao Island
• Camarines Norte
• Northeastern portion of Quezon (Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan) including Polillo 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, Tarangan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan)
• Rest of Northern Samar

TCWS No. 1

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
• Mainland Cagayan
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Ilocos Sur
• Ilocos Norte
• Abra
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet

Visayas

• Rest of Eastern Samar
• Rest of Samar
• Biliran
• Northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatgon, 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)