Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is still hoisted over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan as Typhoon “Marce” (international name Yinxing) continues to batter Northern Luzon, the weather bureau said in its 5:00 p.m. update yesterday.
Those areas will experience storm-force winds, added the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Gale-force winds will continue to prevail in areas under TCWS No. 2: Batanes, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Isabela, Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga, the northern portion of Abra, Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur.
Strong winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 1: the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northwestern portion of Pangasinan, the rest of Abra, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and the northern portion of Aurora.
The northeasterly wind flow and the periphery of the typhoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts in most of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Pangasinan.
Marce packs maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
It was located at 295 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4:00 p.m. The typhoon is almost stationary over the waters east of Northern Cagayan, according to Pagasa.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines reported that the heavy rains and strong winds resulted in the cancellation of all commercial flights in Tuguegarao and Cauayan airports.
Meanwhile, Pagasa said there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak surge heights exceeding three meters above normal tide levels in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union.
Gale warning is still hoisted over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.
Pagasa forecast “Marce” to make landfall and traverse Babuyan Islands and/or the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao, or pass very close to these areas from Thursday to Friday, November 7 to 8.
The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday night, Pagasa said. (PNA)