‘Rolly’ nears super typhoon category; more areas under cyclone wind signal

MANILA (UPDATED) — Typhoon Rolly on Friday night continued to intensify into near the super typhoon category as it barreled closer to eastern Luzon, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the tropical cyclone will pack 185-215 kilometers per hour maximum sustained winds by time it passes near the Bicol Region and makes landfall over the Aurora-Quezon area by Sunday night.

The tropical cyclone will bring its inner rainbands-eyewall region near or over Catanduanes and the Camarines Provinces on Sunday morning before its landfall, the weather bureau said.

The country’s 18th storm is expected to reach the super typhoon category within the next 12 hours, PAGASA added.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has categorized Rolly as a "violent typhoon," the highest category.

• LOOK: Typhoon Rolly and Metro Manila seen from space

Rolly was last estimated 895 kilometers east of Casiguran in Aurora at 10 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kph with gusts of up to 265 kph.

Rolly’s trough will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Visayas, Palawan including Cuyo Islands, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Sulu Archipelago Friday night until Saturday morning, according to PAGASA.

Areas in Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Marinduque, and the northern portions of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro will experience heavy to intense rains due to the typhoon.

Flooding and flash floods, rain-induced landslides, and lahar flows may occur during intense or prolonged rainfall most especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards, said PAGASA.

After the typhoon whips Central Luzon, its center is forecast to exit Luzon around Monday morning.

The tropical cyclone is forecast to weaken but will remain in the typhoon category until it emerges over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over some areas in Luzon and Visayas, where 30-60 kph winds may rip roofs off nipa and cogon huts, damage rice crops and down banana plants:

Luzon:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Marinduque
• Romblon

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Samar (Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Nino, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao)
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Taft, Can-Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo)
• northern portion of Biliran (Kawayan, Maripipi)

PAGASA said tropical storm Atsani, a weather disturbance outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), weakened into a tropical depression at 10 p.m., Friday.

Its center was estimated at 1,790 kilometers east of Visayas, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gusts of up to 70 kph.

The weather disturbance is forecast to enter PAR on Sunday, but is less likely to bring severe weather over the country over the next 3 days.

Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for updates.