MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) continues to threaten Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas at near super typhoon category, state weather bureau PAGASA announced in its 8:00 am update on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
At 7:00 am today, the center of the eye of Typhoon Pepito was estimated based on all available data including from Guiuan Weather Surveillance Radar at 235 km East of Catarman, Northern Samar.
UPDATE: 'Potential catastrophe' looms in Bicol as 'Pepito' intensifies; Signal No. 5 up in Catanduanes
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| Satellite image of Typhoon Pepito as of 7:40 am, November 16, 2024. Photo courtesy: DOST-PAGASA |
'Bagyong Pepito' has maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 215 km/h, and central pressure of 940 hPa. It is moving northwestward at 25 km/h.
TROPICAL CYCLONE WIND SIGNALS (TCWS) IN EFFECT
Signal No. 3 was hoisted in the following areas:
Luzon
- Catanduanes
- the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay Santo Domingo, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Tiwi, Malinao)
- the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, San Jose, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, Siruma)
- the easternmost portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz)
Visayas
- the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan)
- the northernmost portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad)
Luzon
- the rest of Camarines Sur
- the rest of Albay
- the rest of Sorsogon
- Ticao Island
- Camarines Norte
- the northeastern portion of Quezon (Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan) including Pollilo Islands
Visayas
- the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan)
- the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan)
- the rest of Northern Samar
Luzon
- the rest of Masbate including Burias Island
- Marinduque
- Romblon
- the rest of Quezon
- Laguna
- Rizal
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Metro Manila
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Bulacan
- Pampanga
- Tarlac
- Nueva Ecija
- Aurora
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Isabela
- mainland Cagayan
- Pangasinan
- La Union
- Ilocos Sur
- Ilocos Norte
- Abra
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
Visayas
- 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, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo, Abuyog, Javier, City of Baybay, Mahaplag)
- the northeastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago)
- the northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
- the northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles)
Mindanao
- the northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon)
TRACK AND INTENSITY OUTLOOK
On the track forecast, Typhoon Pepito is more likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes tonight or tomorrow (November 17) early morning.
However, considering the limits of the forecast confidence cone, a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon during the same time frame, or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora tomorrow afternoon or evening remains not ruled out.
Pepito is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Monday.
Regardless of the landfall point, Pepito will more likely move generally west northwestward over the weekend and pass over or near the landmass of Bicol Region, Quezon, Central Luzon provinces, and the provinces of Benguet, La Union, and Pangasinan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow evening or Monday morning.
It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.
Pepito will continue to intensify today and may reach super typhoon category within the next hours prior to its landfall tonight or tomorrow early morning.
TROPICAL CYCLONES THIS YEAR
'Bagyong Ofel' is the Philippines' 15th tropical cyclone for 2024. It entered the PAR early Tuesday morning, November 12.
On average, there are 20 tropical cyclones that could form or enter the PAR each year. Only half of those are projected to make landfall.
READ: LIST: PAGASA releases Philippine Typhoon names in 2024
— The Summit Express
