Super Typhoon Pepito: Catanduanes, parts of CamSur under Signal No. 4

By Ma. Cristina Arayata, Philippine News Agency

TROPICAL CYCLONE BULLETIN NR. 11
Super Typhoon #PepitoPH (MAN-YI)
Issued at 5:00 PM, 16 November 2024
Valid for broadcast until the next bulletin at 8:00 PM today. (Photo: @dost_pagasa/X)

MANILA – Pepito (international name Man-yi) has intensified into a super typhoon on Saturday.

All areas where wind signals are hoisted were urged to prepare as the cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

It was located 185 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar or 250 km east of Juban, Sorsogon as of 10 a.m., and is moving west northwestward at 25 kph.

Typhoon-force winds will prevail in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 is hoisted: Catanduanes and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Lagonoy, San Jose).

TCWS No. 3 is hoisted over the eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Talisay, Mercedes, Daet, Basud, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz), the northern and southeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, Siruma, Buhi, Ocampo, Iriga City, Sipocot, Pili, Cabusao, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Naga City, Camaligan), the eastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Tiwi, Malinao, Santo Domingo, Manito, Legazpi City, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu), the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat), eastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan) and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad). Storm-force winds will prevail in these areas.

Gale-force winds are forecast in areas under TCWS No. 2: The southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue), Aurora, Quezon, the eastern portion of Rizal (Tanay, Pililla, Jala-Jala), Laguna, the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, the rest of Sorsogon, Burias Island, Ticao Island, the central portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan), the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan), and the rest of Northern Samar.

Areas under TCWS No. 1 will experience strong winds: Mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, the rest of Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Marinduque, the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, City of Calapan), Romblon, the rest of Masbate, rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Biliran, the northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo, Abuyog, Javier, City of Baybay, Mahaplag), the northeastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago), the northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands, the northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles), northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon).

“You may be wondering why Metro Manila, for instance, is under TCWS no. 1 and yet the weather looks okay. Please remember that there is a lead time of up to 36 hours before the areas under TCWS No. 1 could feel the strong winds,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Chris Perez said in a briefing before noon.

The lead time for areas under TCWS. No. 4 is 12; 18 for TCWS No. 3; and 24 for TCWS No. 1.

Intense to torrential rains are likely in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.

Heavy to intense rains are forecast in Albay, Quezon, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, while moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in Sorsogon, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Masbate.

“Hopefully, you have enough stocks. Coordinate with your local DRRM (disaster risk reduction management) officers for safety precautions,” Perez said.

He also emphasized that all areas with wind signals should prepare for worst-case scenarios.

Pepito is forecast to make landfall over Catanduanes on Saturday night or early Sunday.

Perez, however, said that the “area of probability” shows that the landfall point could be over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur or Albay.

“All areas within the typhoon’s periphery, all areas with wind signals should be prepared,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Region (western coast), Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Leyte (northeastern coast).

Gale warning is hoisted over the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.