The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised tropical cyclone warning signal no.4 in Batanes group of islands due to typhoon “Ferdie” on Tuesday.
The state-run weather bureau said, according to its 11:00 p.m. weather bulletin, the typhoon will make its landfall in Batanes between 11:00 p.m.-1 a.m. It will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesday.
Batanes will also experience 171-220 kilometers per hour (kph) winds.
It also stressed the typhoon will be located 375 km west northwest of Itbayat, Batanes by Wednesday morning.
PAGASA said the rainfall is expected to range from moderate to heavy in the typhoon’s 600 kilometer (km) diameter.
The government agency said the impacts of the wind are the following: very heavy damage to high–risk structures, heavy damage to medium risk structures, moderate damage to low-risk structures, considerable damage to structures of light materials, complete roof structure failures, many houses of medium-built materials are unroofed, some with collapsed walls, extensive damage to doors and windows, a few houses of first-class materials are partially damaged, all signs/billboards are blown down, total damage to banana plantation, coconut plantation may suffer extensive damage, rice and corn plantation may suffer severe losses.
The wave height will reach up to 14 meters and storm surges of up to 3 meters in coastal areas.
Signal no. 3, on the other hand, was raised in the Babuyan Group of Islands. The islands are expected to have winds ranging from 121-170 kph within 18 hours.
The impacts of the signal warning are the following: heavy damage to high–risk structures, moderate damage to medium- risk structures, light damage to low-risk structures, increasing damage up to more than 50% to old, dilapidated residential structures and houses of light materials, majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed, houses of medium strength materials some warehouses or bodega-type structures are unroofed, there may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services, almost all banana plants are downed, some big trees are broken or uprooted, dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are tilted or downed, rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses and damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off and some large trees blown down.
It also placed Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Northern Cagayan at signal no.2, with 61-120 kph winds expected in 24 hours.
Signal no. 2 will have the following impacts: light to moderate damage to high risk structures, very light to light damage to medium-risk structures, no damage to very light damage to low risk structures, unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed, a number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed, some old galvanized iron roofs may be peeled or blown off, some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed, some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities, some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken, rice and corn may be adversely affected, considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown down.
These areas will have a wave height of 4.1-14.0 meters and possible storm surges in their coastal areas.
PAGASA also placed the rest of Cagayan, northern Isabela, Kalinga, Abra and Northern Ilocos Sur on signal no. 1. It will experience 30-60 kph winds in the next 36 hours.
These areas will experience the following: very light or no damage to low risk structures, light damage to medium to high risk structures, slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities, some banana plants are tilted with a few downed and leaves are generally damaged, twigs of small trees may be broken and rice crops in its flowering stage may suffer significant damage.
The areas will also have a wave height of 1.25-4 meters.
As of 10 p.m., the typhoon’s eye was located at 60 km east of Basco, Batanes (20.5°N, 122.5°E). The typhoon is estimated to move west northwest at 24 kph.
PAGASA, however, said the typhoon has a strength of maximum sustained winds of up to 220 kph near the center, with a gustiness of up to 255 kph. (Juzel L. Danganan/PNA)
