Typhoon Quinta (Molave) made its first landfall in San Miguel Island in Tabaco City, Albay, at 6:10 pm on Sunday, October 25.

This was followed by a second landfall in the municipality of Malinao, also in Albay, at 6:50 pm.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 8 pm bulletin on Sunday that Quinta was in the vicinity of Malinao, continuing to move west at 25 kilometers per hour (km/h) over the Albay-Camarines Sur area.

From there, the typhoon will cross Southern Luzon until Monday afternoon, October 26, then turn toward the West Philippine Sea.

Quinta’s maximum winds stayed at 130 km/h early Sunday evening, but its gustiness increased from 160 km/h to 180 km/h. It is likely to remain a typhoon while crossing Southern Luzon, according to PAGASA, and will probably stay in that category even when it gains strength again over the West Philippine Sea. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

These are the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 8 pm on Sunday, with more areas placed under Signal No. 3:

Signal No. 3

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias and Ticao Islands
• southern part of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Buenavista, Lopez, Guinayangan, Calauag, Tagkawayan, Quezon, Alabat, Perez)
• southeastern part of Laguna (Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Rizal, Nagcarlan, San Pablo City, Alaminos, Magdalena, Pagsanjan)
• Batangas
• extreme northern part of Romblon (Corcuera, Banton, Concepcion)
• Marinduque
• northern part of Oriental Mindoro (Bongabong, Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Socorro, Pola, Naujan, Naujan Lake, Victoria, Calapan City, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera)
• northern part of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Sablayan) including Lubang Island

Signal No. 2

• Masbate
• central part of Quezon (Infanta, Real) including Polillo Island
• Cavite
• rest of Laguna
• rest of Romblon
• rest of Oriental Mindoro
• rest of Occidental Mindoro

Signal No. 1

• rest of Quezon
• Rizal
• Metro Manila
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• southern part of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, Cabangan)
• 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, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas)
• Aklan
• northern part of Antique (Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi)
• northeastern part of Iloilo (Batad, Balasan, Estancia, Carles)

PAGASA said typhoon-force winds will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 3, storm-force winds in areas under Signal No. 2, and strong breeze to near gale conditions 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

PAGASA maintained its rainfall forecast for Sunday evening until Monday morning. Aside from Quinta, the tail-end of a frontal system is a source of rain.

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
• Capiz
• Antique

Moderate to heavy rain, with at times intense rain (tail-end of a frontal system)

• Cagayan
• Isabela
• Apayao
• Ilocos Norte

Light to moderate rain, with at times heavy rain (Quinta and tail-end of a frontal system)

• rest of Luzon
• rest of Visayas
• Zamboanga Peninsula
• Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
• Northern Mindanao
• Caraga

Areas affected by Quinta and the tail-end of a frontal system must stay on alert for floods and landslides, as well as “sediment-laden streamflows” such as lahar in areas near Mayon Volcano.

Classes have been suspended in some areas for Monday, as local government units anticipate difficulties with conducting distance learning in the middle of a typhoon.

PAGASA warned the public that storm surges could occur as well.

• eastern coastal areas of Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur (storm surges 2 to 3 meters high)
• coastal areas of Northern Samar, Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, rest of Quezon, and rest of Bicol (storm surges 1 to 2 meters high)

Sea travel remains risky, especially for small vessels.

Rough to high seas

• areas under Signal Nos. 1, 2, and 3 (waves 2.5 to 8 meters high)

Rough to very rough seas

• seaboards of Northern Luzon (waves 3 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)

In other seaboards, PAGASA stressed that small vessels must take precautionary measures and “inexperienced mariners” should avoid venturing out to sea.

Moderate to rough seas

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

Based on its latest forecast track, Quinta might leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday afternoon, October 27.

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