‘Lando’ Maintains Strength; 36 Areas in Luzon Now Under Storm Signals

Four areas in Luzon is now under public storm warning signal PSWS no. 3 as typhoon “Lando” maintained its intensity and continues to increase its threat to Isabela-Aurora area, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday.

PAGASA said that as of 7 a.m. Saturday, the center of Typhoon Lando was estimated at 315km east of Baler, Aurora (15.5°N, 124.5°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It is forecast to move West at 12 kph.

While maintaining its speed and movement, Lando is expected to make landfall over Aurora-Isabela area between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The provinces of Aurora, Quirino, Isabela and Polillo Island is under storm warning signal no. 3 (121-170 kph winds expected in 18 hours).

The potential impacts of the winds under signal 3 are the following:

• Heavy damage to high–risk structures;

• Moderate damage to medium-risk structures;

• Light damage to low-risk structures

• Increasing damage (up to more than 50 percent) to old, dilapidated residential structures and houses of light materials. Majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed

• Houses of medium strength materials (old, timber or mixed timber, usually with G.I. roofing); some warehouses or bodega-type structures are unroofed

• There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services

• Almost all banana plants are downed

• Some big trees (acacia, mango, etc.) are broken or uprooted

• Dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are tilted or downed

• Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses

• Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off; some large trees blown down

The Open sea wave height: 14.0 meters and storm surge of up to 2.0 meters is possible in coastal areas.

Public storm warning signal no. 2 (61-120 kph winds is expected in 24 hrs.) has been raised in Luzon over the provinces of northern Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, and Cagayan including Babuyan and Calayan group of islands.

Storm warning signal 1 (30-60 kph winds is expected in at least 36 hours) is hoisted over in the provinces of Batanes, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Southern Quezon, Cavite, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Metro Manila.

Occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over provinces under PSWS #1 while those under PSWS #2 and #3 will have stormy weather.

The estimated rainfall amount is from heavy to intense within the 600-km diameter of the typhoon.

It added fisherfolk are advised not to venture out over seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

For Saturday forecast, stormy weather is expected over Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the provinces of Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Polillo Islands while rains with gusty winds will prevail over Metro Manila, Bicol region and the rest of Central Luzon and of Calabarzon.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains will be experienced over Visayas and the rest of Luzon while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Mindanao.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Visayas and the rest of Luzon and coming from the southwest over Mindanao with moderate to rough seas. (PNA) JBP/CLTC