TROPICAL Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 has been raised over eight areas in the Philippines as Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) intensifies, PAGASA announced in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Monday. The affected areas include the southern portion of Eastern Samar, the southern portion of Samar, the central and southern portions of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Camotes Islands, the eastern portion of Bohol, Dinagat Islands, and the northern portion of Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands. Residents in these areas can expect storm-force winds with speeds of 89 to 117 km/h within 18 hours, posing a moderate to significant threat to life and property.
Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is in effect over a wider area, including parts of Masbate, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Capiz, Iloilo, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Camiguin. These areas may experience gale-force winds with speeds of 62 to 88 km/h within 24 hours, posing a minor to moderate threat.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga del Norte. These areas may experience strong winds (39 to 61 km/h) within 36 hours, posing a minimal to minor threat.
Typhoon Tino intensified at 8 a.m. on Monday and, as of 10 a.m., was located 285 km east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h. The typhoon is moving west southwestward at 25 km/h, with strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 300 km from its center. PAGASA forecasts initial landfall over the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, or Dinagat Islands tonight or early tomorrow morning. Heavy rainfall is expected over Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Leyte, and Dinagat Islands, with potential for over 200 mm of rainfall from today until Tuesday noon.
