Storm surge warning up in Metro Manila, other areas in Luzon

Storm surge. INQUIRER STOCK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila and various parts of Luzon are at “high risk” of storm surge within the next 48 hours due to Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi), the state weather bureau warned on Sunday morning.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), a storm surge is “the abnormal rise in sea level that occurs during tropical cyclones or typhoons.”

“It is caused by strong winds and low atmospheric pressures produced by tropical cyclones. As the tropical cyclone approaches the coast, strong winds push the ocean water over the low-lying coastal areas, which can lead to flooding,” Pagasa warned.

Based on Pagasa’s 8 a.m. advisory, there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising seawater along with high waves in the low-lying coastal communities in the following areas:

Over 3 meters

• Aurora
• Pangasinan
• Quezon
• Camarines Norte

2 to 1.3 meters

• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Isabela
• Bataan
• Zambales
• Metro Manila
• Quezon
• Batangas
• Cavite
• Marinduque
• Albay
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Masbate
• Sorsogon

1 to 2 meters

• Ilocos Norte
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Metro Manila

In line with this, the state weather service advised the public in these areas to stay away from the coast or beach, cancel all marine activities, and move to higher grounds away from the coast and storm surge-prone areas.

In its 8 a.m. cyclone update, Pagasa said Pepito is over the Philippine Sea east of Quezon province, moving at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).

It maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center with gustiness of up to 255 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning System Signals (Illustration from Ed Lustan)