After barreling through Mindanao and grazing Central Visayas, typhoon Pablo weakened and may be heading out of the country.
If the typhoon stays on course, it will be 140 km southwest of Coron, Palawan by this afternoon. By tomorrow it will be 450 km west of Subic in Zambales.
Although the eye of the storm passed Central Visayas last night, the storm’s 500-kilometer diameter still affects weather in Metro Cebu which will continue to have monsoon rains today.
Storm signal no. 3 remained hoisted in southern Cebu as of 5 p.m. yesterday.
The rest of Cebu is still under public storm signal no. 2.
Residents in low-lying and landslide-prone areas were warned about floods and ground movement. Coastal areas also need to watch for big waves and storm surges.
The typhoon weakened after crossing the Visayas and reduced wind speed to 160 kph and gusts reaching 165 kph.
Less rain is also expected. Pablo’s rain band went down to 10 mm to 18 mm per hour.
The rate was 15 mm – 30 mm per hour when the storm made landfall Tuesday morning in Baganga, Davao Oriental and exited Central Visayas in Zamboangita town, Negros Oriental Tuesday evening./Associate Editor BenCyrus Ellorin