Severe Tropical Storm Paolo (international name: Matmo) has exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau reported on Saturday, October 4.
At 2 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued an erratum on their Facebook page, clarifying that Paolo was still inside PAR at that time. The storm officially exited based on the 5 a.m. bulletin.
According to Pagasa, Paolo’s location was estimated at 295 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur. It packed maximum sustained winds of 110 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph. Its present movement was west-northwest at 20 kph.
Despite Paolo’s exit, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over the following areas:
The western portion of Abra (Danglas, Bangued, Langiden, San Quintin, Pidigan, San Isidro, Pilar, Villaviciosa, Peñarrubia, Manabo, Luba, Tayum, La Paz, Lagayan, Tubo, Bucay, Dolores, San Juan, Lagangilang)
The western portion of Benguet (Bakun, Kibungan, Kapangan, Sablan, Tuba, Mankayan, Tublay, La Trinidad, Baguio City)
The southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Banna, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Marcos, Currimao)
Ilocos Sur
La Union
The western and central portions of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Dasol, Mabini, Infanta, Bugallon, Labrador, Sual, City of Alaminos, Lingayen, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, San Carlos City, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Basista, Bayambang, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, Alcala, Bautista, Santo Tomas, Villasis, City of Urdaneta, Manaoag, Laoac, Pozorrubio, Sison)
The northern portion of Zambales (Iba, Candelaria, Palauig, Santa Cruz, Masinloc)
Pagasa said the signal is expected to be lowered once the strong winds subside and the storm’s outer rainbands move away from the area.
‘Most likely this afternoon, the effects of severe tropical storm Paolo will no longer be felt in any part of the country,’ explained Pagasa weather specialist Grace Castañeda during the press briefing.
She added that wind signals will probably be lifted in the early noon or before midday.
Storm surges reaching 1 to 2 meters are possible in low-lying or exposed coastal areas of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan and Zambales.
Sea conditions remain moderate to rough, with waves reaching up to 4 meters along the seaboards of Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union.
New LPA
Meanwhile, a low-pressure area (LPA) outside PAR has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression, according to Pagasa. At 3 a.m., it was spotted at 2,320 km east of extreme Northern Luzon.
Castañeda said that the LPA could develop into a tropical depression on Sunday, October 5. But there is also a possibility that it will develop within the next 24 hours.
‘However, if the conditions or environment for the LPA become more favorable, we do not rule out the possibility that it could develop into a tropical depression within the day,’ reported Castañeda. /das