Typhoon Paolo (international name: Matmo) slightly weakened as it crossed Northern Luzon on Thursday, Oct. 3.
‘Paolo slightly weakens while traversing the mountainous region of Northern Luzon,’ said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in its latest advisory.
While Paolo may continue on this course, the possibility of it maintaining its typhoon category cannot be ruled out.
The typhoon’s center was last located in the vicinity of Mayoyao, Ifugao at 1 p.m.
It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, lower than the 130 kph earlier, and gustiness of up to 200 kph from 215 kph while moving west-northwest at 30 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are still hoisted in the following areas:
Signal No. 4
The southwestern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Palanan, Roxas, Burgos, Gamu, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, City of Cauayan, San Mateo, Alicia, Ramon, City of Santiago, Cordon, San Isidro, Echague, Angadanan, San Guillermo, Jones, San Agustin)
The northwestern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Aglipay, Saguday, Cabarroguis),
The northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Solano, Villaverde, Bagabag, Diadi, Quezon, Ambaguio, Bayombong)
Mountain Province
Ifugao
The southern portion of Abra (Tubo)
The northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kibungan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan)
The southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, San Emilio, Salcedo, Burgos, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, San Esteban, Santiago, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon)
The northern portion of La Union (Luna, Bangar, Balaoan, Sudipen, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan)
Signal No. 3
The northern and central portions of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Casiguran, Dilasag)
The rest of Isabela
The rest of Quirino
The central portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Bambang, Kayapa, Aritao, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Santa Fe)
Kalinga
The central portion of Abra (Boliney, Daguioman, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, La Paz, San Juan, Lagangilang, Danglas, Lagayan, Tayum, Bangued, Langiden, Pidigan, San Quintin, Pilar, Luba, Manabo, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Peñarrubia, Bucay, Dolores)
The rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Sur, and the rest of La Union
Signal No. 2
The central and southern portions of Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung, Enrile, Baggao, Lasam, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Allacapan)
The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
Apayao
The rest of Abra
The central and southern portions 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 central portion of Aurora (Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
The northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Bongabon, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao, Science City of Muñoz, Llanera, Nampicuan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Talugtug, Quezon, Santo Domingo, Talavera, General Mamerto Natividad)
The northern portion of Tarlac ( Moncada, San Clemente, Camiling, Paniqui, Ramos, Anao, San Manuel, Gerona, Victoria, Pura)
The northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria)
Signal No. 1
Batanes
The rest of mainland Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
The rest of Ilocos Norte
The rest of Aurora
The rest of Nueva Ecija
The rest of Tarlac
Bulacan
Pampanga
The rest of Zambales
The northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands
Camarines Norte
Pagasa also warned of storm surge of up to 3 meters in low-lying areas of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.
Rough and high seas are expected over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, making sea travel risky.
Heavy rainfall
Pagasa also warned of torrential rains in several provinces due to Paolo.
Rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters (mm) is expected in Isabela, Quirino, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet until Saturday noon, Oct. 4.
Rainfall between 100-200 mm is likely over Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan while 50-100 mm may be experienced in Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite and Batangas.
Paolo is forecast to cross the landmass of Northern Luzon this Friday and emerge over the West Philippine Sea this afternoon or evening.
It is predicted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning. /apl