Typhoon ‘Glenda’ Maintains Strength, 7 Provinces Under Signal No. 3

Manila — Seven provinces are now under public storm warning signal No. 3 as typhoon “Glenda” has maintained its strength and continues to move westward towards Bicol Region, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura said public storm warning signal No. 3 (winds of 101-185 kilometers per hour is expected in at least 18 hours) has been raised over Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Burias and Ticao Islands and Northern Samar.

Pura said the areas placed under public storm warning signal 2 (61-100 kph winds is expected in at least 24 hrs) are Camarines Norte, Masbate, Marinduque, Quezon including Polilio Island, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Samar and Eastern Samar.

He added public storm warning signal 1 (30-60 kph winds is expected in at least 36 hours), on the other hand, is hoisted over Romblon, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Aurora, northern Leyte including Biliran Island.

PAGASA said residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under signals 3, 2, and 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal 3 and 2 are alerted against storm surges.

PAGASA said as of 4 a.m., the eye of typhoon Glenda was located 270 km east of Legazpi City packed with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Pura said typhoon Glenda continues to move westward at 20 kph.

He said typhoon Glenda is expected to make landfall over Albay-Sorsogon area by Tuesday evening between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..

He added the typhoon then will cross Albay towards Southern Luzon.

He also said the estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5-25 millimeters per hour (moderate-intense) within the 500-km diameter of the typhoon.

He added it will affect Metro Manila on Wednesday morning between 6 a.m. to 11 a.m..

Pura said if typhoon Glenda will not change its movement and speed it will exit the landmass via Zambales area on Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday morning it is expected to be at 185 km northwest of Iba, Zambales

Friday morning it is expected to be at 590 km West northwest of Laoag City or outside the PAR.

For Tuesday forecast, Metro Manila, Bicol region, CALABARZON, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro and Northern Samar will experience stormy weather while Central Luzon and the provinces of Romblon, northern part of Leyte, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, will have rains with gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough.

The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms while rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

It added that fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the Eastern seaboards of Luzon and of Visayas.

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