RAMMB/Himawari-9 satellite imagery

SIGNAL NO. 2 RAISED IN METRO MANILA

MANILA (UPDATED) - More areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 as Super Typhoon Pepito continues to threaten "potentially catastrophic" impact on the Bicol region, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

PAGASA, in its 8 p.m. bulletin, said the eye of the tropical cyclone was about to make landfall along the eastern coast of Catanduanes. 

Pepito is packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 240 kph. The super typhoon is moving west-northwestward at 20 kph. 

Strong to typhoon-force winds are extending outwards up to 300 km from the center of Pepito, according to the weather bureau.

Signal No. 5 has been raised in Catanduanes and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion). The areas will experience typhoon-force winds of 185kph or higher in 12 hours. 

Signal No. 4:

Camarines Norte, the northern and southeastern portions of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, San Jose, Tigaon, Sagñay, Calabanga); and the northeastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu)

Signal No. 3

Aurora, Polillo Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Lopez, Quezon, Perez, Alabat, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Real, General Nakar, Infanta, Mauban, Sampaloc); the eastern portion of Rizal (Tanay, Pililla); the northeastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti); the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, and the northern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Barcelona, Castilla, Casiguran, Pilar, Donsol)

Signal No. 2

Isabela, Quirino, Nueve Vizcaya, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, the rest of Rizal the rest of Laguna, Cavite, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, Burias Island, Ticao Island, and the rest of Sorsogon;

Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Gandara), and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpio)

Signal No. 1

Mainland Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Batangas, the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan) including Lubang Islands; the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, City of Calapan, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay); Romblon; and the rest of Masbate;

The rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Biliran, the northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo); the northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands; and the northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles)

PAGASA forecast track of Super Typhoon Pepito. 

PAGASA said the super typhoon is forecast to move generally west northwestward make landfall over the northern or central portion of Catanduanes between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Saturday.  

"However, considering short-term wobbling motion of the eye, it is possible, although becoming less likely, that PEPITO will just pass very close to Catanduanes (but bring the southern eyewall and its violent conditions over most of Catanduanes)," the weather bureau said.

STORM SURGE, TORRENTIAL RAINFALL

PAGASA also warned that the super typhoon may trigger storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal areas in the Ilocos Region, Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran. 

Pepito is also bringing intense to torrential rainfall exceeding 200 mm from Saturday night to Sunday evening in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon, Aurora, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, heavy to Intense rainfall (100-200 mm) will be experienced in La Union, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal,Albay, Sorsogon, and Bataan.

Moderate to heavy rainfall (50-100 mm) will be felt in Northern Samar, Masbate, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Batangas, Cagayan, Isabela, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra and Ilocos Sur.

PAGASA said the super typhoon was still approaching its peak intensity. "With radar imagery showing signs of eyewall replacement, the intensity of Pepito may begin to maintain or slightly decrease in the next coming hours. However, if the eyewall replacement finishes prior to its passage over Catanduanes, the super typhoon will resume intensifying as forecasted," it added.