AS Typhoon “Bising” (international name: “Surigae”) intensifies, the state-run weather agency raised Signal No. 1 in some parts of the country on Saturday.
Signal No. 1 is now up in Sorsogon; Albay; the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, namely Siruma, Goa, Ocampo, Tigaon, Sagnay, Baao, Nabua, Bato, Iriga City, Buhi, Tinambac, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion and Caramoan; Ticao Island; and Catanduanes in Luzon.
The same storm signal was raised in the Visayas, specifically over Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Camotes Islands, and in Mindanao, namely the Dinagat Islands; Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and the Bucas Grande Islands; and Surigao del Sur.
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the eye of Typhoon Bising was located 645 km east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte or 545 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
Moving north-westward at the speed of 20 km/hr, the typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 185 kp/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kp/h.
In its 11 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said the rain bands of Typhoon Bising will bring moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains over Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and the Camotes Islands on Sunday .
By Monday, Pagasa said moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains will be experienced over Northern Samar and the Bicol Region.
Under these conditions, flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides may occur, especially in areas identified in hazard maps as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards, said the weather bureau.
Furthermore, Pagasa said the same storm signal may be hoisted over the eastern portion of Masbate and other localities of Camarines Sur in the next few hours in anticipation of the onset of strong breeze to near gale conditions, associated with the approaching typhoon.
Based on the current forecast scenario, Signal No. 2 remains the highest level of wind signal that will be hoisted due to this typhoon, Pagasa said.
“However, in the event of a further eastward or westward shift in the current track forecast, [the] highest level of wind signal that will be hoisted for this typhoon may be lower or higher than the current scenario suggests,” the weather bureau added.
Considering the uncertainty in the track forecast of Typhoon Bising, a westward shift may result in potentially significant impacts over the eastern portions of Luzon and Visayas, Pagasa added.
“The possibility of a landfall scenario is not ruled out,” Pagasa concluded.
The weather bureau said Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers, caused by local thunderstorms.
