Aghon rapidly intensifies into typhoon over Quezon waters

Map of areas affected by typhoon Aghon. PAGASA 

MANILA - Aghon further intensified into a typhoon as it traversed the coastal waters of Burdeos, Quezon, hours after making its 9th landfall over Patnanongan, Quezon. 

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, weather bureau PAGASA said Aghon now packs maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph. 

Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 3 remains raised over Polillo Islands. 

Signal No. 2 is still in effect over 3 provinces while Metro Manila and several other areas remain under Signal No. 1

Aghon may intensify into a typhoon by Monday afternoon over the Philippine Sea east of Northern Luzon and will continue its northeastward track until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday afternoon.

Signal no. 2 meanwhile remains hoisted over Aurora, the northern and central portions of Quezon (Real, General Nakar, Infanta, Mauban, Calauag, Perez, Alabat, Quezon), and the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Santa Elena, Capalonga).

Signal no. 1 is over the eastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, San Agustin, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, City of Cauayan, Maconacon, Angadanan, Naguilian, Palanan, Dinapigue), the eastern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan, Aglipay), the eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte), the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Pantabangan, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Laur, Palayan City, Peñaranda, San Leonardo, City of Gapan, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, San Isidro, Cabiao, San Antonio, Jaen, Llanera), the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Santa Ana, Arayat, Mexico, Sasmuan, Macabebe, Masantol, Santo Tomas, Minalin, City of San Fernando, Bacolor), the southeastern portion of Bataan (Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles), Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, the rest of Camarines Norte, and the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Milaor, Cabusao, Camaligan, Pili, Sipocot, Pamplona, Ragay, San Fernando, Magarao, Minalabac, Del Gallego, Libmanan, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Canaman, Pasacao, Gainza, Lupi).

HEAVY RAINFALL

PAGASA warned that heavy rainfall of between 100 to 200 millimeters may be expected in the Polillo Islands. 

Rainfall of between 50-100 mm meanwhile may be expected in Aurora, Rizal, Laguna, Metro Manila, Camarines Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Antique, Aklan, the rest of Quezon, and the eastern portions of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan.

"Forecast rainfall are generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas. Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days," PAGASA said. 

NINE LANDFALLS

Aghon has so far made landfall in the following islands:

May 24

-Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar 11:20 p.m.,

May 25

-Giporlos, Eastern Samar 12:40 a.m.

-Basiao Island, Catbalogan City, Samar 4:00 a.m.

-Cagduyong Island, Catbalogan City, Samar 5:00 a.m.

-Batuan, Masbate 10:20 a.m.

-Masbate City, Masbate 10:40 a.m.

-Torrijos, Marinduque 10:00 p.m.

May 26

-Lucena City, Quezon 4:30 a.m.

-Patnanongan, Quezon 8 p.m.