MANILA, Philippines – The weather bureau warned Southern Luzon, Central Luzon, and Eastern Visayas to expect significant rain in the coming days due to Tropical Storm Man-yi, which will be given the local name Pepito once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Man-yi remained outside PAR on Thursday morning, November 14, located 1,375 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao.
The tropical storm is heading west southwest at 25 kilometers per hour (km/h), with its movement continuing to be influenced by a high pressure area over the south of Japan.
It is still expected join Super Typhoon Ofel (Usagi) inside PAR on Thursday evening.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said in its 11 am advisory that Man-yi intensified on Thursday morning.
The tropical storm now has maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h from 75 km/h, while its gustiness is now up to 105 km/h from 90 km/h.
It may strengthen further into a severe tropical storm on Thursday before entering PAR, then into a typhoon by Friday morning, November 15.
“The possibility of rapid intensification is not ruled out,” added PAGASA. Man-yi could even reach super typhoon category before hitting land.
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PAGASA still sees the potential Pepito making landfall in the eastern coast of Southern Luzon — possibly at peak intensity — on Saturday, November 16, or Sunday, November 17.
But the weather bureau reiterated that Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas are possible landfall areas as well, since the tropical cyclone’s track may shift “within the limit of the forecast confidence cone.”
“Most areas” in Luzon and Eastern Visayas are at risk of heavy rain, severe winds, and possibly storm surges from Man-yi “which may cause considerable impacts,” PAGASA said.
The weather bureau’s rainfall outlook for Man-yi, released at 11 am on Thursday, shows the following areas may be affected starting Friday:
Friday noon, November 15, to Saturday noon, November 16
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Sorsogon
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Leyte, Samar
Saturday noon, November 16, to Sunday noon, November 17
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 mm): Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Northern Samar, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Leyte, Masbate, Romblon, Eastern Samar, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino
The rain may trigger floods and landslides.
Man-yi may also cause hazardous sea conditions in the eastern seaboard of the Philippines starting late Friday or on Saturday.
PAGASA advised the public to keep monitoring updates as more detailed forecasts will be released when Man-yi is already inside PAR. – Rappler.com