THE weather bureau on Sunday raised Signal No. 5, its highest cyclone warning, over Polillo Islands and parts of Quezon province due to the threat of Super Typhoon Karding.
In its latest bulletin issued 11 a.m. Sunday, the state weather bureau also hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 over the extreme northern portion of Quezon province, which includes the northern and central portions of General Nakar and the northeastern portion of Infanta.
These areas are expected to experience Karding’s strongest winds of more than 185 kph in the next 12 hours, PAGASA said.
PAGASA also placed wind signals in the following areas of Luzon:
SIGNAL NO. 4
Calaguas Islands
Southern portion of Aurora (San Luis, Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora)
Northern portion of Quezon (the rest of General Nakar, the rest of Infanta, Real)
Southeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Gabaldon, General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda)
Eastern and central portions of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat, City of San Jose del Monte)
Northeastern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, City of Antipolo, Tanay, San Mateo, Baras)
Extreme northern portion of Laguna (Famy, Siniloan, Santa Maria, Pangil)
SIGNAL NO. 3
Metro Manila
Central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao)
Southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte)
Rest of Nueva Ecija
Tarlac
Rest of Bulacan
Pampanga
Zambales
Bataan
Pangasinan
Rest of Rizal
Northern and central portions of Laguna (Mabitac, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Luisiana, Majayjay, Magdalena, Santa Cruz, Pila, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Victoria, Rizal, City of San Pedro, City of Biñan, City of Santa Rosa, Cabuyao City, City of Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, Calauan)
Northeastern portion of Cavite (Bacoor City, Imus City, Kawit, City of Dasmariñas, Carmona, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, City of General Trias, Rosario, Silang)
Rest of the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real, General Nakar, Mauban)
Northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga)
SIGNAL NO. 2
Southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones)
Quirino
Rest of Nueva Vizcaya
Benguet
La Union
Rest of Aurora
Rest of Cavite
Batangas
Rest of Laguna
Central portions of Quezon (Calauag, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Sampaloc, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Pitogo, Dolores, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, San Antonio, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista)
Rest of Camarines Norte
The northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Libmanan, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando, Pili, Minalabac, Ocampo, Tigaon, Cabusao, Magarao, Gainza, Canaman, Camaligan, Milaor, Naga City, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Sagñay)
Catanduanes
SIGNAL NO. 1
Southern portion of Cagayan (Tuao, Solana, Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Peñablanca)
Rest of Isabela
Southern portion of Apayao (Conner)
Kalinga
Abra
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, Banna, City of Batac, Currimao, Paoay, Marcos)
Ilocos Sur
Rest of Quezon
Northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz) including Lubang Islands
Northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan)
Marinduque
Rest of Camarines Sur
Albay
Sorsogon
Burias Island
Ticao Island
PAGASA said Karding intensified further as it moved westward toward the Quezon and Aurora provinces, where it is expected to make landfall Sunday evening.
It may also have a close approach or early landfall over Polillo Islands.
Karding is expected to continue intensifying and may make landfall at a peak intensity of 185 to 205 kph.
“Frictional effects during landfall and traverse of the Luzon landmass will weaken Karding throughout the evening through tomorrow early morning, although it is highly likely that this tropical cyclone will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass,” PAGASA said.
The state weather bureau last estimated Karding at 175 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, with strong maximum sustained winds of up to 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
It was moving westward at 20 kph.
Karding will bring moderate up to torrential rains throughout Luzon, including Metro Manila until Monday.
Southern Luzon and the Visayas, meanwhile, will also experience monsoon rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) enhanced by the super typhoon.
Karding is the 11th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year.
