Typhoon ‘Luis’ gains strength, nears Cagayan

Track of Typhoon Luis

From Dost_pagasa facebook page

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon “Luis” (international codename: Kalmaegi) continues to threaten northern provinces as it gained strength on Sunday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its latest bulletin said Luis was located 213 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora as of 10 a.m.

The state weather bureau upgraded its report on the typhoon’s maximum sustained winds, from 120 kilometers per hour at 4 a.m. Sunday to 130 kph near the center at 10 a.m. with gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Heavy and intense rainfall at 8 to 20 millimeters per hour is expected within the 500 km diameter of the typhoon.

Moving west northwest at 20 kph, Pagasa said Luis is likely to make landfall over the Cagayan-Isabela area on Sunday afternoon or evening and will reach Laoag City by Monday morning.

It is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday morning.

Public Storm Warnings remain up for the following provinces:

Signal 3
(Winds of 101 -185 kph is expected in at least 18 hrs)
Cagayan including Babuyan and Calayan group of Island, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Ifugao, Northern Aurora, Quirino

Signal 2
(Winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hrs)
Batanes group of Islands, La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, rest of Aurora

Signal 1
(Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours)
Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Northern Quezon and Polillo Island

Pagasa continues to warn those living in low lying and mountainous regions to watch out for flashfloods and landslides. Meanwhile, those in coastal provinces where signals no. 3 and 2 were raised should remain alert for possible storm surges.

Flashfloods and landslides may also be expected in Bicol, Quezon and the rest of central Luzon because of the combined effect of the typhoon and the southwest monsoon, which will bring about moderate to occasional heavy rains.

Those in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon should brace for moderate rains and thunderstorms.

 

RELATED STORIES

Typhoon ‘Luis’ nears Catanduanes, Aurora

Blue alert status up ahead of ‘Luis’ landfall

Read more...