Pagasa issues upgraded rainfall warning as Pepito approaches Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau upgraded on Friday morning its heavy rainfall warning for Metro Manila and Cavite as Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) approaches Luzon.

Pepito was last spotted 630 kilometers (kms) east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

Track of Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi) as of Nov. 15, Friday. Image from DOST / Pagasa

READ: Pepito now a typhoon; Ofel lowers strength to severe tropical storm

It was last reported to be moving westward at 30 kms per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

With these developments, Pagasa upgraded its rainfall warning on Metro Manila and Cavite, saying it may face heavy to intense rainfall between 100 and 200 millimeters (mm) from Sunday noon (Nov. 17) to Monday noon (Nov. 18).

READ: Pagasa warns: Pepito a very dangerous cyclone

The weather agency previously said Metro Manila and Cavite would face moderate to heavy rainfall between 50 and 100 mm on Sunday.

Pagasa’s updated outlook goes as follows:

Friday (Nov. 15) to Saturday noon (Nov. 16)

Moderate to Heavy (50-100 mm)

• Batanes

Saturday noon (Nov. 16) to Sunday noon (Nov. 17)

Intense to Torrential (More than 200 mm)

• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Northern Samar

Heavy to Intense (100 to 200 mm)

• Eastern Samar
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte

Moderate to Heavy (50 to 100 mm)

• Masbate
• Leyte
• Quezon
• Samar
• Biliran

Sunday noon (Nov. 17) to Monday noon (Nov. 18)

Intense to Torrential (More than 200 mm):

• Catanduanes
• Quezon
• Aurora
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur

Heavy to Intense (100 to 200 mm):

• Metro Manila
• Northern Samar
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Marinduque
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Rizal
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija

Moderate to Heavy (50 to 100 mm):

• Bataan
• Zambales
• Tarlac
• Batangas
• Pampanga
• Masbate
• Romblon
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Oriental Mindoro
• Pangasinan
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino

State meteorologists predicted Pepito would make landfall in Catanduanes either Saturday evening (Nov. 16) or Sunday early morning (Nov. 17), cross the Luzon landmass, and emerge into the West Philippine Sea by Monday (Nov. 18).