Pepito now a typhoon
Pepito intensified into a typhoon on Friday morning, as it threatened to ravage areas still reeling from a string of weather disasters.
PAGASA said Pepito was 620 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 10 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and up to 160 kph gusts.
It “will continue to rapidly intensify today through tomorrow and may reach super typhoon category prior to its landfall tomorrow evening or on Sunday early morning,” the state weather bureau warned.
It said Pepito was likely to make landfall in Catanduanes. But considering uncertainty, PAGASA said it was not discounting possible landfall in Northern Samar; the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon; or northern Quezon or Aurora.
“Regardless of the landfall point, Pepito will more likely move generally west northwestward over the weekend and pass over or near the landmass of Bicol Region, Quezon, Central Luzon provinces, and Pangasinan,” PAGASA said.
Pepito will be closest to Metro Manila midday to early afternoon Sunday.
It will then cross Central Luzon on Sunday evening and exit the Philippine area of responsibility before midday Monday.
Wind signal no. 5 will be the highest wind warning to be raised.
Pepito will bring very destructive and devastating winds along its immediate path, heavy to torrential rains in many parts of Luzon and Eastern Visayas, and storm surge up to 3 meters which may be life-threatening.
Further changes in the track forecast are expected and the public is advised to continue monitoring updates on Pepito.
Pepito’s path could be similar to last month's Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which accounted for most of the 159 deaths tallied in the recent swarm of weather disasters to hit the country.
Authorities on Friday ordered evacuations and suspended bus trips in areas in Pepito’s path.
PAGASA raised wind signal no. 2 over the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Mapanas, Gamay, Palapag, Lapinig) and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog).
Signal 1 was up over the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Mapanas, Gamay, Palapag, Lapinig) and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog).
