PAGASA: Heavy to Intense Rainfall in N. Luzon Despite Weakening ‘Lawin’

Heavy to intense rainfall is expected in northern Luzon even if supertyphoon ‘Lawin’ (international name ‘Haima’) has weakened into a typhoon.

“We forecast such rainfall in areas under tropical cyclone warning signal 4 and 3,” said weather forecaster Meno Mendoza from state-run Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

He also forecast heavy to intense rainfall as lasting until around noontime Thursday (Oct. 20) after the expected exit of ‘Lawin’ from Ilocos Norte province’s landmass earlier on the same day.

In its severe weather bulletin 15 released Thursday, PAGASA said signal 4 is raised over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Kalinga and Ifugao provinces as well as Calayan Group of Islands.

PAGASA said winds of 171 kph to 220 kph is expected in those areas. Also possible are waves over 14.0 meters high in open seas and storm surges 2.0 meters to 3.0 meters high in coastal areas.

Signal no. 3 is hoisted over La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces as well as northern areas of Aurora province, expecting in 18 hours winds of 121 kph to 170 kph.

Height of waves in open seas there can exceed 14.0 meters and storm surges of up to 2.0 meters high are possible along coastal areas, PAGASA also said.

PAGASA located ‘Lawin’ in the vicinity of Kabugao in Apayao as of 4 a.m. Thursday after making landfall in Cagayan province’s Penablanca municipality around 11 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 19).

‘Lawin’ packed maximum sustained winds of up to 205 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 285 kph, said PAGASA.

“Weakening of ‘Lawin’ began when this typhoon moved over Apayao because it’s mountainous there,” said Mendoza.

PAGASA forecast ‘Lawin’ to move west-northwest at 25 kph.

The typhoon is expected to exit landmass between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Thursday via Ilocos Norte province then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility around evening of the same day, PAGASA added. (PNA) JMC/CJT/EBP