MikeLigalig.com

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

Typhoon “Lawin” (Jelawat) continues to intensify while moving north-northwest over the sea in the general direction of the Cagayan-Batanes area, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday afternoon.

Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said that based on its present direction and speed, the typhoon is expected to make landfall on Thursday in the area of extreme Northern Luzon.

Duran said that as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, typhoon Lawin was located at 485 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora (16.6°N, 127.4°E), moving north-northwest at 11 kilometers per hour. Its wind strength increased from 195 kph Tuesday morning to 205 kph Tuesday afternoon, while its gustiness rose from 230 kph to 240 kph.

The state weather agency said that public storm warning signal No. 1 is still hoisted over Isabela, Cagayan, Calayan group of islands and Babuyan group of islands which are expected to experience winds of 30 to 60 kph within the next 36 hours.

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm warning signal are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Duran said that with its present speed, Lawin is expected to leave the Philippine territory either Friday or Saturday, heading toward Taiwan.

He said the areas within its 850-km diameter radius are expected to experience rainfall of 10 to 20 millimeters per hour, which is classified as “heavy to intense.”

He added the typhoon is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will continue to bring occasional moderate to heavy rains in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA said the typhoon is forecast to be at 380 km east of Aparri, Cagayan by Wednesday afternoon; at 160 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Thursday afternoon; and 120 km northwest of Basco, Batanes by Friday afternoon.

Weathermen advised owners of fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, the seaboards of the Visayas and northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao due to big waves generated by typhoon "Lawin" and the southwest monsoon.

The weather agency said that Isabela and Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands, will have rains and gusty winds.

Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), the Bicol region and the Visayas will experience cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

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