MANILA (UPDATE) - Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) continues to intensify as it heads towards Quezon and Aurora provinces, where it is expected to make landfall, the state weather bureau said Wednesday afternoon.

The country's 21st storm this year, which came just days since super typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) battered the Bicol region, was last estimated 65 kilometers north of Daet, Camarines Norte, as of 4 p.m.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted over Catanduanes and other parts of Bicol, where thousands remain displaced and houses and critical infrastructure are in ruins, as well as Metro Manila.

Ulysses was observed moving west at 15 kms per hour, while packing maximum winds of 140 kph near the center and gusts of up to 195 kph, PAGASA said in its 8 p.m weather bulletin.

It made close approach in the vicinity of Calaguas Islands at 6:30 p.m., and is expected to make landfall over Polillo Islands between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. Thursday.

Here is the full list of areas under the storm signal no. 3, where 121-170 kph winds are expected within 18 hours and may uproot trees and cause moderate to heavy damage:

• Metro Manila
• southern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan)
• southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax Del Norte, Dupax Del Sur)
• Pangasinan
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Laguna
• northern and central portions of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Tayabas City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Agdangan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Macalelon, Lopez, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez) including Polillo Islands
• Batangas
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Cabusao, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan)

The following areas are under signal no. 2, where 61-120 kph winds are expected within 24 hours and may damage wooden and old electric posts:

• rest of Quirino
• rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• southern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Itogon, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Baguio City, Tuba)
• southern portion of La Union (Burgos, Naguilian, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Tubao, Pugo, Santo Tomas, Rosario, Agoo)
• rest of Quezon
• Marinduque
• northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Abra de Ilog) including Lubang Island
• northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Pola, Victoria, Naujan, Baco, Calapan City, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera)
• rest of Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias and Ticao Islands

Signal No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas, where 30-60 kph winds may rip roofs off nipa and cogon huts, damage rice crops and down banana plants:

• Isabela
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• rest of Benguet
• Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• rest of La Union
• rest of Occidental Mindoro
• rest of Oriental Mindoro
• Romblon
• rest of Masbate
• Northern Samar
• northern portion of Samar (Santo Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Tarangnan, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao)
• northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad)

Ulysses is projected to cross Central Luzon and emerge over the western seaboard of Zambales on Thursday, PAGASA said.

• Fifth storm since October: Typhoon-hit provinces brace for Ulysses

Weather forecaster Lorie dela Cruz said Ulysses further slowed down, drenching the Camarines provinces in heavy rains with strong winds as it heads towards Polillo Islands.

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Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will prevail Wednesday over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan, while moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced in Cordillera Administrative Region, mainland Cagayan Valley, Catanduanes, Marinduque, the northern portion of Mindoro Provinces, and the rest of Central Luzon.

The rest of Luzon and Visayas will experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains, PAGASA said.

By Wednesday morning to afternoon, heavy to intense rains is expected over mainland Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and the northern portion of Mindoro Provinces, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over Western Visayas and the rest of Luzon.

It warned that flooding, rain-induced landslides, and sediment-laden streamflows (e.g. lahar) may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards and those where heavy rains were earlier recorded.

Four more storms could enter the Philippine area of responsibility before the end of the year, PAGASA said.

• 4 more storms could hit Philippines by year-end: PAGASA

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Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for updates.