MANILA, Philippines – State weather bureau PAGASA warned of "potentially catastrophic and life-threatening" situation for northeastern Bicol region as Super Typhoon 'Pepito' further intensifies.
In the 2:00 pm bulletin on Saturday, November 16, PAGASA hoisted Signal No. 5 in Catanduanes.
The agency added that 'Pepito' is more likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes tonight or tomorrow (November 17) early morning.
However, considering the limits of the forecast confidence cone, a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur or Albay during the same time frame (if it moves slightly south of forecast track), or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora tomorrow afternoon or evening remains (if it moves slightly north of forecast track) not ruled out.
At 1:00 pm today, the center of the eye of Super Typhoon 'Pepito' was estimated based on all available data including from Guiuan, Laoang, Masbate, and Daet Weather Radars at 200 km East of Juban, Sorsogon or 180 km East Southeast of Virac, Catanduanes.
'Pepito' has maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 240 km/h, and central pressure of 920 hPa. It is moving west northwestward at 20 km/h.
Meanwhile, these areas were put under Signal No. 4:
Luzon
- the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Tigaon, Sagñay)
- the northeastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu)
Signal No. 3 was raised over the following areas:
Luzon
- Polillo Islands
- the southeastern portion of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista)
- Camarines Norte
- the rest of Camarines Sur
- the rest of Albay
- northern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Barcelona, Castilla, Casiguran, Pilar, Donsol)
Visayas
- the eastern and central portions of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan, Las Navas, Biri, Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, San Roque, Silvino Lobos, Lope de Vega, San Jose)
- the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad)
Signal No. 2 is up in the following areas:
Luzon
- the southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, Cordon, Ramon, Alicia, City of Cauayan, Angadanan, City of Santiago, San Isidro, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Palanan)
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- the eastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Umingan, Natividad, San Quintin, Tayug, Santa Maria, Rosales, Balungao, San Manuel, Villasis, Malasiqui, Bautista, Mapandan, Binalonan, Alcala, Asingan, Santo Tomas, City of Urdaneta, Laoac, Manaoag, Bayambang, Santa Barbara)
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Bulacan
- Tarlac
- Pampanga
- the southern portion of Zambales (Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio, Castillejos, Subic, Olongapo City)
- Bataan
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- the rest of Quezon
- Laguna
- Cavite
- Marinduque
- the rest of Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- and Ticao Island
Visayas
- the central portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan)
- the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan)
- the rest of Northern Samar
Signal No. 1 in the following areas:
Luzon
- mainland Cagayan
- the rest of Isabela
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- the rest of Pangasinan
- the rest of Zambales
- Batangas
- the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan) including Lubang Islands
- the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, City of Calapan, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay)
- Romblon
- the rest of Masbate
Visayas
- the rest of Eastern Samar
- the rest of Samar
- Biliran
- the northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo, Abuyog, Javier, City of Baybay, Mahaplag)
- the northeastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago)
- the northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
- the northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles)
Mindanao
- the northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon)
Regardless of the landfall point, the 'Pepito' will move generally west northwestward over the weekend and pass over or near the localities of Bicol Region, Central Luzon, Quezon, and the southern portions of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region before emerging over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow evening or Monday morning.
'Pepito' is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday.
— The Summit Express
