Typhoon Emong may intensify further before landfall

RAMB/US NOAA/Himawari

MANILA — Typhoon Emong could pick up more strength before it slams into northern Luzon, PAGASA said on Thursday. 

In its 2 p.m. update, the state weather bureau said Emong was almost stationary over the sea west of Pangasinan.

But the typhoon is starting to turn northeastward, may intensify further, and eventually head towards La Union or Ilocos to make landfall by Friday morning, PAGASA said. 

It said Emong would then accelerate northeastward until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday.

WIND SIGNALS 

In the meantime, PAGASA has hoisted signal no. 3 over northern Pangasinan and the western portions of La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Abra, where winds of 89 to 117 kilometers per hour were expected.  

PAGASA raised signal 2 over the following areas that might be lashed by 62 to 88 kph winds.

• Ilocos Norte
• Rest of Ilocos Sur
  Rest of La Union
• Central Pangasinan (Agno, Burgos, Mabini, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Infanta, Dasol, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Manaoag, Laoac, Binalonan, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Pozorrubio, Sison, San Fabian, San Jacinto)
• Rest of Abra
• Apayao
• Kalinga
  Mountain Province
  Ifugao
  Benguet
  Babuyan Islands
  Northern and western Cagayan (Rizal, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Allacapan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Santo Niño, Piat, Tuao), and the western portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Santa Fe)
  
  
  Signal 1 was up over the following areas facing the threat of 39 to 61 kph winds.
• 
  
  Batanes
  Rest of Cagayan
  Western and central portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Ramon, Cordon, Burgos, Cabatuan, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Gamu, Luna, Maconacon, Alicia, San Mariano, Naguilian, San Guillermo, City of Cauayan, Echague, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, Divilacan, San Isidro, Jones)
• Rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino
  Rest of Pangasinan
  Northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan)
• Tarlac
• Western and central portions of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Aliaga, Zaragoza, San Antonio, Jaen, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Bongabon, Laur)
  
  
  

RAINS 

The rain bands of Emong will directly impact parts of Northern and Central Luzon while the enhanced southwest monsoon will bring significant rainfall over the rest of Luzon through midday Sunday.

Up to torrential rains are possible until midday Saturday in Occidental Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union,  Benguet, and Ilocos Sur.

Serious threats of flooding and landslides remain likely in many parts of Luzon.

Emong follows days of monsoon rains that have killed at least 12 people and left another eight missing across the archipelago since July 18, according to the national disaster agency.

The government has announced the suspension of classes across Luzon for Thursday.

Around 70 domestic and international flights have been cancelled due to the storms, the civil aviation authority said.

Tens of thousands were evacuated across Manila earlier this week by floodwaters that swamped some neighborhoods in waist-deep water and left residents of nearby provinces stranded and in need of rescue by boat.

— With a report from Agence France-Presse