Cyclone Paolo (international name: Matmo) weakened into a severe tropical storm on Friday afternoon, October 3, as it moved over the West Philippine Sea, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
As of 4 p.m., Paolo was spotted over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 165 kph and a central pressure of 990 hPa.
The storm is moving west-northwestward at 35 kph, with strong to storm-force winds extending up to 480 kilometers from its center.
Wind signals
PAGASA said the following areas in Luzon are under tropical cyclone wind signals:
Signal No. 3
Ilocos Sur
La Union
southwestern portion of Abra (Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Tayum, Bangued, Langiden, Pidigan, San Quintin, Pilar, Luba, Manabo, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Peñarrubia, Bucay, Tubo)
western portion of Kalinga (Tinglayan, Pasil)
western portion of Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Sagada, Bauko, Sadanga, Bontoc, Sabangan)
western portion of Ifugao (Hungduan, Tinoc)
Benguet
Residents may experience storm-force winds of 89 to 117 kph, which pose a moderate to significant threat to life and property.
Signal No. 2
southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig, Pasuquin, Vintar, Carasi)
Pangasinan
rest of Abra,
rest of Kalinga
rest of Mountain Province
rest of Ifugao
western portion of Isabela (Cordon, Ramon, San Mateo, City of Santiago, Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, Aurora, San Manuel, Cabatuan)
northwestern portion of Quirino (Cabarroguis, Saguday, Diffun)
northern and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Dupax del Norte, Aritao, Santa Fe, Bayombong, Bagabag, Villaverde, Kasibu, Bambang, Diadi, Quezon, Solano, Dupax del Sur, Ambaguio, Kayapa)
northernmost portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan)
Winds of 62 to 88 kph may cause minor to moderate impacts.
Signal No. 1
rest of Ilocos Norte
Apayao
Batanes
mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
rest of Isabela
rest of Quirino
rest of Nueva Vizcaya
Aurora
rest of Nueva Ecija
Tarlac
Zambales
Pampanga
Bulacan
northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands
Winds of 39 to 61 kph may bring minimal to minor impacts.
Storm surge, severe winds
PAGASA warned that storm surge risks remain moderate to high, with peak heights of 1 to 3 meters along low-lying coastal areas of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.
The outer rain bands of Paolo will also bring strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas not under wind signals,
Friday, October 3: Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Panay Island, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar
Saturday, October 4: Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Zambales and Bataan
Sea conditions
Gale warnings remain in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.
Very rough to very high seas: Up to 6 meters along Ilocos Sur
High seas: Up to 5 meters along Ilocos Norte and Cagayan
Moderately high seas: Up to 4.5 meters across remaining northern seaboards
Rough seas: Up to 4 meters off Batanes and other exposed coasts
Moderate seas: Up to 3 meters along northern Quezon, Camarines Norte, Pangasinan, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur
PAGASA strongly advised against sea travel as waves and swells may worsen with Paolo’s approach.
Track and intensity
Paolo is forecast to move west-northwestward, exiting the Philippine area of responsibility over the West Philippine Sea by Saturday morning, October 4.
Despite weakening, heavy rainfall, storm-force winds and storm surge may still affect communities across northern and central Luzon.
PAGASA said the storm may re-intensify into a typhoon within the next 12 hours.