SCREENGRAB from Pagasa’s Facebook page
Typhoon “Nona” (international name: “Melor”) has maintained its strength as it continued to threaten Samar-Sorsogon early Monday, the state weather bureau said Monday morning.
More areas, including Metro Manila, were placed under storm signals as the typhoon neared landfall.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in an advisory issued at 5 a.m., said that Signal No. 3 was hoisted in Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay including Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran and Samar.
Signal No. 2 was placed in Masbate including Burias Island, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Romblon, Southern Quezon and Leyte.
Signal No. 1 was raised in Metro Manila, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, rest of Quezon including Polillo Island, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Aklan, Capiz, Northern Negros Occidental, Dinagat province and Siargao Island.
Pagasa warned that storm surges of up to 4 meters are possible over the areas under Signals No. 2 and 3.
Nona is expected to pass very close to Northern Samar by early afternoon on Monday and will make landfall over Sorsogon early evening before it crosses Albay province towards Burias Island.
The typhoon packed strong winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 185 kph. It moved west at 17 kph, Pagasa said.
Nona was last tracked 205 kilometers east of Catarman in Northern Samar and is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday evening.
Pagasa warned of heavy to intense rains within the 300-kilometer radius of Nona. Flashfloods and landslides are also possible over areas under Signals No. 2 and 3. RAM
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