Cagayan braces for supertyphoon ‘Lawin’

Typhoon “Lawin” (international name Haima) may become a supertyphoon before its projected landfall in Cagayan early Thursday, the state weather bureau said.

Aldczar Aurelio, weather forecaster from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said in a televised press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, that Lawin was expected to intensify into a strong typhoon, or even a supertyphoon before its landfall.

A supertyphoon has sustained winds of at least 220 kilometers per hour.

Signal No. 4 or 5 is possible on Wednesday evening over Cagayan, including Calayan group of Islands, Apayao, Ilocos Norte and northern Isabela.

These storm signals could damage structures, topple down trees and power lines.

Aurelio also warned of possible storm surges of up to five meters along the coast of Cagayan, including Calayan group of Islands, Isabela and Ilocos Norte.

Sea travel would also be risky over the eastern seaboard of Luzon as early as Wednesday.

As of 5 p.m. Signal No. 1 was raised over most of northern Luzon – Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan including Calayan group of Islands, Batanes group of Islands, Isabela, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Catanduanes and Polillo Islands.

Moderate to heavy rains, to at times intense, were seen within the 650 km radius of Lawin.

The rains are expected starting Wednesday morning in most parts of northern Luzon, especially in Cagayan and Isabela, Aurelio said.

The typhoon is projected to make landfall in Cagayan early Thursday before it crosses Apayao and Ilocos Norte./rga