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Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Sorsogon are the first provinces facing significant rain from Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi), which strengthened further on Friday afternoon, November 15
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) continued to rapidly intensify on Friday afternoon, November 15, with its maximum sustained winds increasing further from 130 kilometers per hour to 150 km/h.
The typhoon’s gustiness is now up to 185 km/h from the previous 160 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a briefing past 5 pm on Friday that Pepito is still expected to undergo rapid intensification until Saturday, November 16, and could strengthen into a super typhoon before making landfall.
Under PAGASA’s classification, a super typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h or above.
Pepito was already 465 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, as of 4 pm. It continues to move relatively fast, heading west northwest at 30 km/h.
PAGASA’s latest rainfall advisory shows moderate to heavy rain from the typhoon is already expected to hit three provinces in the next 24 hours. The rain may trigger floods and landslides.
Friday afternoon, November 15, to Saturday afternoon, November 16
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Sorsogon
Saturday afternoon, November 16, to Sunday afternoon, November 17
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 mm): Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Albay
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Aurora, Quezon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Romblon, Marinduque, Samar
Sunday afternoon, November 17, to Monday afternoon, November 18
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 mm): Quezon
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Metro Manila, Rizal, Aurora, Pangasinan, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino
More areas were also placed under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 5 pm on Friday:
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- eastern part of Northern Samar (Mapanas, Gamay, Palapag, Lapinig, Silvino Lobos, Laoang, Catubig, Las Navas, Pambujan, Mondragon, San Roque, Catarman, Lope de Vega)
- northern part of Eastern Samar (Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Can-avid)
- northeastern part of Samar (San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao)
Signal No. 1
Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- Aurora
- Quezon
- eastern part of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Mabitac, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Luisiana, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, San Pablo City, Rizal)
- Marinduque
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- rest of Northern Samar
- rest of Eastern Samar
- rest of Samar
- Biliran
The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Pepito is Signal No. 5.
In addition, there is a moderate to high risk of “life-threatening” storm surges “with peak heights reaching 3 meters above mean sea level” in Aurora, Quezon, southeastern Batangas, northwestern Romblon, Marinduque, Bicol, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran within 48 hours.
ALSO ON RAPPLER
PAGASA said Pepito is projected to move generally west northwest in the next five days.
It is still “more likely” to make landfall in Catanduanes on Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, November 17. But considering the cone of probability, the weather bureau is not ruling out landfall in Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon also on Saturday evening or early Sunday morning; in Northern Samar on Saturday afternoon or evening; or in Quezon or Aurora on Sunday afternoon or evening.
“Regardless of the landfall point,” Pepito is likely to pass over or near the landmass of Bicol, Quezon, Central Luzon provinces, and Pangasinan during the weekend, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Sunday evening or Monday morning, November 18.
All areas which will be placed under rainfall and wind warnings should prepare for the typhoon, not just areas listed as possible landfall sites.
In terms of intensity, PAGASA said Pepito may slightly weaken “after its initial passage over land,” followed by further weakening on Sunday when it crosses the landmass of Central Luzon. But the weather bureau emphasized that Pepito will still cross land as a typhoon, which means it will still be a serious threat.
Pepito may weaken into a severe tropical storm over the West Philippine Sea on Monday.
Pepito is the Philippines’ 16th tropical cyclone for 2024. It is also the fourth tropical cyclone for November alone, after Marce (Yinxing), Nika (Toraji), and Ofel (Usagi).
Counting from October 21 to present — starting with Kristine (Trami) and Leon (Kong-rey) — Pepito is already the country’s sixth tropical cyclone in less than a month. – Rappler.com
