Typhoon Lando slightly intensifies

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) has slightly intensified and is expected to make landfall over the Aurora area by Sunday morning, October 18. 

As of 10 am Saturday, state weather bureau PAGASA estimated the center of Lando at 295 km east of Baler, Aurora, now with maximum sustained winds of 160 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 195 km/h.

It is still moving west in direction but has slowed down to 10 km/h, with heavy to intense rainfall estimated within the typhoon’s 600-km diameter. 

PAGASA has warned Aurora and neighboring provinces against storm surges that may reach up to 2 meters. Wave height in open sea may reach up to 14 meters or higher.

In a National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council briefing on Saturday, NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama said that Lando is “not an ordinary typhoon.”

‪“Ito pong si Lando hindi pangkaraniwang bagyo na isang araw lang dadaan. Base sa mga forecast matagal, posible hanggang Martes (Lando is not an ordinary typhoon that would be gone in a day. Based on the forecast, it would take longer, possibly until Tuesday),” Pama said.

More areas have been placed under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 (121-170 kph Expected in 18 hours):

• Aurora
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Nueva Ecija
• Ifugao
• Northern Quezon including Polillo Islands

Signal No. 2 (61-120 km/h expected in 24 hours): 

• Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands
• Benguet
• Mt. Province
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Apayao
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Ilocos Sur
• Ilocos Norte
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Rizal
• Rest of Quezon
• Camarines Norte
• Catanduanes

Meanwhile, 9 areas are still under Signal No. 1 (30-60 km/h expected in 36 hours): 

• Batanes
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Albay
• Camarines Sur
• Metro Manila

“Occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over provinces under PSWS #1 while those under PSWS #2 and #3 will have stormy weather,” the bureau said in its 11 am bulletin issued Saturday. 

PAGASA has warned fisherfolk against venturing out over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

The next bulletin on Typhoon Lando will be issued at 5 pm Saturday. – Rappler.com