Philippine tropical cyclones

Tropical Storm Quinta strengthens, moves closer to Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon

Acor Arceo

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Tropical Storm Quinta strengthens, moves closer to Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon

Image from NOAA

As Tropical Storm Quinta (Molave) approaches, more areas in Luzon and the Visayas are placed under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 8 am on Sunday, October 25

Tropical Storm Quinta (Molave) slightly strengthened early Sunday morning, October 25, as it moved closer to the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon in the region of Bicol.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 8 am bulletin on Sunday that Quinta is now 265 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

The tropical storm is still moving west toward Bicol at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).

It remains expected to make landfall either in Catanduanes, Albay, or Sorsogon on Sunday afternoon or evening. After hitting land, Quinta will cross Southern Luzon until Monday afternoon or evening, October 26, then emerge over the West Philippine Sea.

Quinta now has maximum winds of 75 km/h from the previous 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h from the previous 80 km/h. PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility that Quinta may strengthen further into a severe tropical storm before hitting Bicol.

After crossing land, Quinta could also gain more strength over the West Philippine Sea and become a typhoon by Tuesday evening, October 27. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

As Quinta approaches, more areas in Luzon and the Visayas were placed under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 8 am on Sunday. Here is the updated list:

Signal No. 2
  • Catanduanes
  • Camarines Norte
  • Camarines Sur
  • Albay
  • Sorsogon
  • northern part of Masbate (Milagros, Masbate City, Mobo, Baleno, Aroroy, Mandaon, Uson) including Burias and Ticao Islands
  • central and southern parts of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Dolores, Candelaria, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Perez, Alabat, Calauag, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Gumaca, Unisan, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Catanauan, General Luna, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco)
  • eastern part of Batangas (Padre Garcia, Rosario, Ibaan, Batangas City, Lobo, Taysan, San Juan)
  • Marinduque
  • Romblon
  • Oriental Mindoro
  • Northern Samar
Signal No. 1
  • rest of Masbate
  • rest of Quezon
  • Laguna
  • Rizal
  • rest of Batangas
  • Cavite
  • Metro Manila
  • Bulacan
  • Pampanga
  • Bataan
  • southern part of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, Cabangan)
  • Occidental Mindoro
  • Calamian Islands
  • northern part of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Tagapul-an, Santo Niño, Almagro, Santa Margarita, Gandara, San Jose de Buan, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Jorge, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas)
  • northern part of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft)
  • northern part of Capiz (Sapi-an, Ivisan, Roxas City, Panay)
  • Aklan
  • northern part of Antique (Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi)

PAGASA said gale conditions will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 2, while strong breeze to near gale conditions will be felt in areas under Signal No. 1.

Strong breeze to gale conditions from a northeasterly surge will also persist in the following areas:

  • Batanes
  • Babuyan Islands
  • northern coastal areas of Ilocos Norte and mainland Cagayan

Meanwhile, rain from both Quinta and the tail-end of a frontal system will persist on Sunday until Monday morning. PAGASA maintained this rainfall forecast:

Moderate to heavy rain, with at times intense rain (Quinta)
  • Bicol
  • Calabarzon
  • Aurora
  • Occidental Mindoro
  • Oriental Mindoro
  • Romblon
  • Marinduque
  • Calamian Islands
  • Northern Samar
  • Eastern Samar
  • Samar
  • Biliran
  • Aklan
  • Antique
Moderate to heavy rain, with at times intense rain (tail-end of a frontal system)
  • northern parts of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte
Light to moderate rain, with at times heavy rain (Quinta and tail-end of a frontal system)
  • Metro Manila
  • Cordillera Administrative Region
  • rest of Central Luzon
  • rest of Mimaropa
  • rest of Cagayan Valley
  • rest of Visayas
  • Zamboanga Peninsula
  • Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
  • Northern Mindanao
  • Caraga

PAGASA warned that floods and landslides are possible, along with “sediment-laden streamflows” such as lahar in areas near Mayon Volcano.

The state weather bureau also reiterated that travel is risky in seaboards with rough to very rough waters, especially for small vessels.

Rough to very rough seas
  • seaboards of Northern Luzon (waves 3 to 5.5 meters high)
  • areas under Signal Nos. 1 and 2 (waves 2.5 to 5.5 meters high)
  • seaboards of Aurora, Zambales, and northern part of Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands (waves 2.5 to 4.5 meters high)

Those with small vessels should also take precautionary measures as waters elsewhere are moderate to rough.

Moderate to rough seas
  • other seaboards of the Philippines (waves 1.2 to 2.8 meters high)

“Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” added PAGASA.

Based on its latest forecast track, Quinta might leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday afternoon.

Forecast track of Tropical Storm Quinta (Molave) as of October 25, 2020, 8 am.
Image from PAGASA

Quinta is the Philippines’ 17th tropical cyclone for 2020, and the 4th for October.

An average of 20 tropical cyclones form within or enter PAR each year. (READ: LIST: PAGASA’s names for tropical cyclones in 2020)

These are PAGASA’s latest estimates for the number of tropical cyclones inside PAR in the next 6 months:

  • November 2020 – 1 to 3
  • December 2020 – 2 or 3
  • January 2021 – 0 or 1
  • February 2021 – 0 or 1
  • March 2021 – 0 or 1
  • April 2021 – 0 or 1

Last October 2, the state weather bureau warned Filipinos to expect more rain in the coming months due to the onset of La Niña– Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Clothing, Apparel, Person

author

Acor Arceo

Acor Arceo is the head of copy and editorial standards at Rappler. Trained in both online and TV newsrooms, Acor ensures consistency in editorial standards across all sections and also supervises Rappler’s coverage of disasters.