'Uwan' to bring widespread torrential rains as super typhoon by Nov. 9

MANILA, Philippines, November 8 ------ Heavy to intense rains are expected to drench eastern Luzon and Visayas starting today, as Severe Tropical Storm "Fung-Wong" nears the country. PAGASA said the system could reach super typhoon strength by Sunday afternoon, November 9, bringing torrential rainfall to 16 provinces in Luzon.

Between 12 p.m. on November 8 and 12 p.m. on November 9, the following provinces are projected to receive heavy to torrential rainfall from Fung-Wong while it approaches the country.

Torrential (>200 mm)

- Catanduanes

Intense (100-200 mm)

- Northern Samar

- Eastern Samar

- Sorsogon

- Albay

- Camarines Sur

- Camarines Norte

Heavy (50-100 mm)

- Samar

- Biliran

- Leyte

- Masbate

- Quezon

- Marinduque

- Romblon

- Aurora

- Quirino

- Isabela

- Cagayan

By midday Sunday, rains are expected to intensify rapidly across affected provinces, causing widespread flooding and possible landslides in vulnerable areas. Metro Manila will also be included with an orange rainfall warning expected to be raised over it.

Torrential (>200 mm)

- Aurora

- Nueva Ecija

- Cagayan

- Isabela

- Quirino

- Nueva Vizcaya

- Apayao

- Kalinga

- Abra

- Mountain Province

- Ifugao

- Benguet

- Ilocos Norte

- Ilocos Sur

- La Union

- Pangasinan

Intense (100-200 mm)

- Metro Manila

- Quezon

- Rizal

- Laguna

- Cavite

- Camarines Norte

- Camarines Sur

- Catanduanes

- Zambales

- Bataan

- Tarlac

- Pampanga

- Bulacan

Heavy (50-100 mm)

- Batanes

- Batangas

- Occidental Mindoro

- Oriental Mindoro

- Marinduque

- Romblon

- Albay

- Sorsogon

- Masbate

- Aklan

- Antique

- Northern Samar

PAGASA said more rain may be dumped in mountainous and elevated areas, with the effects of the anticipated typhoon expected to worsen as well. Astrophysicist Gerry Bagtasa, professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, said most of the rainfall may occur on Sunday evening, making mitigation efforts more challenging. The state weather bureau also cautioned mariners from venturing out to sea because of the moderate to rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. A gale warning for very rough seas may likely be raised on Saturday. Once inside PAR, Fung-Wong may hit land by Sunday night or early Monday, November 11, possibly in Isabela or northern Aurora. It’s expected to move across the West Philippine Sea after landfall.

Source: philstar.com