‘Ferdie’ barrels toward Taiwan

Typhoon ‘Ferdie’ can be seen in this satellite photo nearing Taiwan. Typhoon ‘Gener’ can be seen at the right. PAGASA PHOTO

Typhoon “Ferdie” (international name Meranti) continuef to head towards Taiwan early Wednesday after making landfall over Batanes.

The typhoon is currently traversing Bashi Channel and may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) before noon Wednesday, between 10 a.m. and 12 nn, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Signal No. 4 remained hoisted over Batanes area, while Signal No. 3 was up over the Babuyan Islands.

Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Northern Cagayan were under Signal No. 2; and the rest of Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra and Northern Ilocos Sur were under Signal No. 1.

Ferdie made landfall over Itbayat, Batanes, on Tuesday night. It packed maximum sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph.

The typhoon was last located 45 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, moving at 22 kph west northwest.

“Residents in Northern Luzon are advised to take precautionary measures against impacts of very strong winds and heavy rainfall,” Pagasa said.

Meanwhile, the eye of typhoon Gener (Malakas) was located at 1,110 km east of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

It is forecast to move west northwest at 24 kph, Pagasa said.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, the regions of the Zamboanga peninsula, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Northern Mindanao and Caraga .

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of Mindanao.