PH braces for Typhoon Maysak

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines braces for Typhoon Maysak, as the severe weather system moves closer to the country Wednesday, April 1.

Maysak, as of 10 am Wednesday, was located by state weather bureau PAGASA at 1,280 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, carrying maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 250 km/h.

Maysak could enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday evening or early morning Thursday, April 2, the state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 am bulletin.

The bureau, in a briefing at their headquarters in Quezon City, said Maysak is currently tracking west-northwest, at a speed of 17 km/h.

PAGASA said that as of their latest forecasts, Maysak – to be given the local codename Chedeng – could make landfall in the general area of Central and Northern Luzon late Saturday, April 4, or early Sunday, April 5.

Forecast landfall is seen to occur in the area of Isabela and Aurora provinces.

Public storm warning signals could be raised in Bicol and Eastern Visayas in the next 36 hours, the bureau said.

Effects of the storm’s outer rainbands could be felt as early as late Friday, April 3, or early Saturday, the bureau said. So far, the typhoon isn’t affecting any part of the country, the bureau added. 

The bureau also advised citizens to keep track of the bulletins on the typhoon, especially as the system enters the country during the Holy Week travel season.

The next weather update will be issued at 5 pm. – With reports from Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com