Typhoon Labuyo: 6 areas under signal #3

UPDATE: Click here for the latest Typhoon Labuyo update (Sunday PM, August 11). 

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MANILA, Philippines — Six areas are now under storm warning signal number 3 as Typhoon Labuyo (international codename Utor) barrels toward Luzon Sunday, August 11.

Labuyo was 160 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 270 km east northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.7°N, 125.6°E), as of 10 am, carrying maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h and gusts of up to 185 km/h.

Storm warning signal number 3 has been raised over the following areas:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Northern Quezon including Polilio Island
• Aurora
• Isabela

Here, winds between 101-185 km/h is expected within 18 hours, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 am severe weather bulletin.

Heavy damage to agriculture and property is possible, along with moderate to heavy disruption to communications and power systems. Any type of travel – land, sea, or air – is dangerous.

Storm warning signal number 2, where winds between 61-100 km/h can be expected within 24 hours, is in effect over the following areas:

• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Rizal
• Rest of Quezon
• Laguna
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Quirino
• Nueva Viscaya
• Benguet
• Ifugao
• Mountain Province
• Kalinga
• Cagayan

These areas can expect moderate damage to agriculture, as well as to structures made of light materials. Travel by air or sea is risky.

Storm warning signal number 1, meanwhile, is in effect over the following areas:

• Calayan Group of Islands
• Babuyan Group of Islands
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur 
• Apayao
• Abra
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• Cavite
• Batangas
• Marinduque
• Burias 
• Ticao Islands
• Metro Manila

These places can expect winds 45-60 km/h within the next 36 hours.

Some damage to agriculture may be experienced, and structures made of light materials may be partially damaged. Small seacraft are advised to stay ashore in these areas.

In all areas under storm warning signals, flash flooding, landslides, and storm surges are possible, and residents are warned to be on the lookout for these.

Labuyo could strengthen further

The typhoon can further intensify, since it is still at sea. Rainfall within the typhoon’s 600 km diameter is estimated to be heavy to intense (7.5-25 mm/h).

“Ito po ang pinakamalakas na bagyo so far this year… na tatama sa kalupaan” (It is the strongest typhoon to make landfall this year), PAGASA OIC Director Vicente Malano said in a press conference.

The bureau has sent a storm-chasing team to monitor the typhoon in Aurora, and will coordinate with the local disaster risk reduction management council there, Malano said.

PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said the storm is moving slowly. The bureau said it is moving at a speed of 19 km/h.

PAGASA forecasts Labuyo to follow a west-northwest direction going towards Aurora, and is forecast to make landfall in the northern part of the province early Monday morning, August 12. It will traverse northern Luzon Monday, and will exit in the area of the Ilocos provinces.

It will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday.

Labuyo will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rain to the rest of the country.

The next PAGASA update will be released 5 pm Sunday. – Rappler.com

UPDATE: Click here for the latest Typhoon Labuyo update (Sunday PM, August 11).