MANILA (UPDATED) - Typhoon Uwan continued to rapidly intensify Saturday afternoon as it moved closer towards the Philippine Sea east of the Bicol Region, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
In its 5 p.m advisory, PAGASA said there is an increasing likelihood of a southward shift in the typhoon’s track that may result in a direct hit or landfall over Catanduanes.
The center of the eye of Typhoon Uwan was last spotted 575 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
It was packing maximum sustained winds of 150kph and gusts of up to 185 kph. The typhoon was moving west northwestward at 30 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 3 has been raised over the following areas:
Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Lagonoy, Caramoan, Tigaon, Garchitorena, Sagñay, San Jose, Presentacion), the eastern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Santo Domingo, Malinao, Rapu-Rapu, City of Tabaco, Bacacay, Malilipot), and the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz) , the northeastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Mapanas, Laoang).
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2:
The eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, the rest of Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Ticao Island; the rest of Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Tagapul-An, Santo Niño, Almagro, San Jorge, San Sebastian, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Paranas, Hinabangan), and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, San Policarpo, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Can-Avid, City of Borongan, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Maydolong).
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1:
Batanes, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Masbate, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Calamian Islands, and Cuyo Islands; the rest of Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, the northern and central portions of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Borbon, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Asturias, Cebu City, Balamban, City of Talisay, Toledo City, Minglanilla, Dumanjug, Argao, Sibonga, Barili, Ronda, Moalboal, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcantara, City of Carcar, City of Naga, San Fernando, Pinamungahan, Aloguinsan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, City of Talisay, San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Bacolod City, Hinigaran, City of Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Bago City, Valladolid, Pulupandan), the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Tayasan, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan), Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique; Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao) and the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes).
PAGASA said Uwan is forecast to rapidly intensify and may reach super typhoon category Saturday night or Sunday, and wind signal no. 5 may be raised in areas that will be hit by the tropical cyclone.
The center of the typhoon's eye may pass close to Catanduanes Sunday morning and make landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or the northern portion of Aurora Sunday evening or Monday early morning, the state weather bureau said.
Aside from intense winds, the typhoon may trigger life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters within the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal communities of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands.
After landfall, it may weaken but will remain a typhoon while crossing the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon.
It will be over the West Philippine Sea Monday morning or afternoon.
Uwan will bring significant rainfall across Luzon and Eastern Visayas during its passage.
Up to torrential rains are forecast over Bicol through Sunday noon and Northern and Central Luzon Sunday noon to Monday noon.
Widespread and serious flooding and landslides are expected.