Pepito nears super typhoon level, Signal No. 1 up in NCR

TYPHOON Pepito, which was located east northeast of Borongan City in Eastern Samar, continues to increase its strength as it moves northwestward, early morning of Saturday (November 16). 

Based on the most recent PAGASA advisory, Pepito has maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h around the center and gusts of up to 215 km/h, putting it on course to become an ominous super typhoon in the coming hours. 

Photo Courtesy: PAGASA-DOST

Local winds may be slightly stronger or intensified in wind-prone coastal and upland/mountainous places. Winds are less forceful in regions protected from the prevailing wind direction. 

Besides that, there is a significant probability of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights surpassing 3.0 m in the next 48 hours over low-lying or exposed coastal communities in close proximity to the affected locations.

This includes Metro Manila, along with Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Bicol Region, Marinduque, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Cavite, Batangas, Central Luzon, Isabela, and Ilocos Region.

Latest track of Pepito

Pepito is projected to move west northwestward during the next three days before shifting westward to west southwestward from Monday (Nov. 18) evening to Thursday (Nov. 20) early morning. 

According to the track projection, the typhoon will most likely make landfall in Catanduanes tonight or early tomorrow (Nov. 17). Pepito is likely to leave the PAR region on Monday. 

However, a landfall over the eastern coasts of Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon at the same time period, as well as along the eastern coasts of Quezon or Aurora tomorrow afternoon or evening, is not ruled out.

Meanwhile, PAGASA emphasizes that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still occur in areas around the typhoon’s landfall site and prediction confidence cone.

Signal Numbers

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 has already been raised in some provinces, including Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Albay, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, and the easternmost portion of Sorsogon. 

In Visayas, the eastern portion of Northern Samar and the northernmost portion of Eastern Samar are also among the highest wind signal number raised earlier this morning. 

Photo Courtesy: PAGASA-DOST

Signal No. 2 is hoisted in the remaining areas of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Camarines Norte, the easternmost portion of mainland Quezon, and the Pollilo Islands.

Also under the same TCWS are Visayas provinces such as the northern portion of Eastern Samar, the northern portion of Samar, and the rest of Northern Samar. 

While Signal No. 1 is up in Metro Manila, along with the remaining parts of of Masbate, Marinduque, Romblon, the rest of Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, 

Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, the central and southern portions of Cagayan , Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Abra, the southern portion of Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Benguet.

The rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Biliran, northern and central portions of Leyte, the northeastern portion of Southern Leyte, northernmost portion of Cebu, including Bantayan Islands, and northernmost portion of Iloilo.

Based on PAGASA, the highest wind signal that can be hoisted during the occurrence of Pepito is Wind Signal No. 5. Forcing Filipino residents in the Luzon region to quickly prepare for its consequences.