Nona maintains strength; 7 areas under signal #3

MANILA, Philippines – Public storm warning signal 3 was raised in 7 areas as Typhoon Nona (international name Melor) continues to move westward, state weather bureau PAGASA said Sunday evening, December 13.

In its 8 pm severe weather bulletin, PAGASA said Nona maintained its strength – with maximum winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph, and is moving west at 19 kph.

It now threatens the Samar-Sorsogon area, with storm surges of up to 3.6 meters possible over areas where public storm warning signals 2 and 3 are raised. 

Public storm warning signals are hoisted over the following areas:

Signal #3

• Catanduanes
• Sorsogon
• Albay
• Ticao Island
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar

Signal #2

• Masbate including Burias ISland
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Romblon
• Southern Quezon
• Leyte
• Biliran

Signal #1

• Marinduque
• Oriental Mindoro
• rest of Quezon
• Southern Leyte
• Northern Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Negros Occidental
• Dinagat Island
• Siargao Island

Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 300-kilometer diameter of the typhoon, according to the bulletin.

PAGASA added that it is possible to raise storm warning signal 1 over the rest of Southern Luzon and Metro Manila on Sunday evening. – Rappler.com