Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is still hoisted over seven areas of Luzon as Severe Tropical Storm Paolo is now traversing the West Philippine Sea, according to the state weather bureau.
Based on its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Paolo was last located over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur.
Even though the severe tropical storm is already in coastal waters, Pagasa emphasized that ‘heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.’
TCWS No. 3 is hoisted over the following areas:
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
TCWS 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
The rest of Abra
The rest of Kalinga
The rest of Mountain Province
The 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)
TCWS No. 1
The rest of Ilocos Norte
Apayao
Batanes
Mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
The rest of Isabela
The rest of Quirino
The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
Aurora
The rest of Nueva Ecija
Tarlac
Zambales
Pampanga
Bulacan
Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands
Paolo is currently packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of 165 kph, moving west-northwestward at 35 kph.
The severe tropical storm is forecast to re-intensify into a typhoon category within the next 12 hours and may exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning.