Karen weakens further, but heavy rain still expected

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MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Karen (Sarika) further weakened late Sunday morning, October 16, as it was about to exit landmass via Pangasinan. It will continue, however, to bring heavy rain to parts of Luzon. 

In its bulletin issued 11 am on Saturday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Karen now has maximum winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gustiness of up to 200 km/h.

The typhoon is in the vicinity of Bolinao, Pangasinan, still moving west northwest at 22 km/h. It earlier made landfall in Baler, Aurora at 2:30 am.

Two fatalities have been reported, so far, both in Catanduanes.

Signal number 2 is raised in the following areas:

• Pangasinan
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• La Union

PAGASA warned that storm surges are possible in coastal areas of provinces under signal number 2.

The following areas, meanwhile, are under signal number 1:

• Ilocos Sur
• Mt Province
• Ifugao
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Nueva Ecija
• Quirino
• Benguet
• Aurora
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Bataan
• Metro Manila
• Cavite
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Batangas
• northern Quezon

Moderate to heavy rain is expected within the 400-km diameter of the typhoon.

On Saturday, October 15, 199.5 millimeters (mm) of rain were recorded in Daet, Camarines Norte, the highest for the day.

Last Friday, October 14, Karen had dumped more than a month’s worth of rains in Catanduanes. PAGASA’s Virac Radar showed 406.55 mm of rain on Friday alone. The monthly average is just 393.5 mm.

PAGASA said residents of areas under warning signals should continue to watch out for possible floods and landslides.

The state weather bureau also warned that sea travel in the northern, eastern, and southern seaboards of Luzon remains risky.

Karen has already caused the cancellation of domestic and international flights.

The typhoon is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday, October 17, between 1 am and 3 am. (Read our live blog here.)

Severe Tropical Storm Haima

After Karen leaves, however, another tropical cyclone will enter PAR on Monday afternoon.

Haima, currently located 1,615 km east of the Visayas, intensified into a severe tropical storm on Sunday morning. It will be given the local name Lawin when it enters PAR.

So far, Haima has maximum winds of up to 105 km/h and gustiness of up to 130 km/h. It is moving west northwest at 17 km/h.

If the path of the severe tropical storm continues, PAGASA forecaster Benison Estareja said it will likely target Luzon. The exact areas, however, cannot be pinpointed yet as Haima is still too far from the country. – Rappler.com