MANILA (UPDATE) -- Thousands fled to storm shelters, fishermen moved their boats to shore and Metro Manila's giant billboards were folded up on Monday, as the Philippines braced for powerful typhoon Tisoy (Kammuri) during its hosting of the Southeast Asian Games.

In the capital city, Manila, which is hosting some SEA Games events, a giant Christmas tree was wrapped in red cloth in preparation for Tisoy's winds, which were gusting at 180 kph as of Monday afternoon.

Tisoy, the 20th typhoon to enter the Philippine area this year, was forecast to hit land in Catanduanes, Albay or Sorsogon in the northeast peninsula of Bicol late Monday or early Tuesday, weather bureau PAGASA said.

At least 43 flights were canceled Monday and classes in all levels were suspended Tuesday in parts of Metro Manila and other areas on the storm's path.

"Dapat alerto po tayo, bantayan po natin, tutok po tayo sa ating mga updates... Sana ay hindi muna tayo magre-relax," said PAGASA Administrator Vicente Malano.

(We should be alert and monitor updates... I hope we don't relax.)

President Rodrigo Duterte opened the SEA Games last Saturday along with champion boxer and Sen. Manny Pacquiao. Organizers said some outdoor events could be rescheduled due to bad weather.

In Virac, on the eastern island province of Catanduanes, palm trees swayed due to wet winds as Tisoy neared. The weather bureau said the storm could take the same path as Glenda (Rammasun), which killed some 100 people in July 2014.

Thousands were evacuated in Albay, home to the Mayon Volcano due to the threat of lahar flows, flood, storm surge, and landslide, said Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office.

"Medyo masama na po ang panahon natin, nararamdaman na po ang malamig na hangin at patak-patak na ulan," Eric Ferrer, disaster council spokesman in Camarines Norte.

(The weather is turning bad. We can feel the cold winds and it's starting to rain.)

TINGNAN: Mga tarpaulin, nakarolyo na sa mga billboard sa kahabaan ng EDSA bilang paghahanda sa pananalasa ng bagyong #TisoyPH | via @dzmmRP45 pic.twitter.com/R3wFdJUzxC

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) December 2, 2019

Manila LGU and Engineering Department wraps the Christmas tree display near the Bonifacio shrine with a big red cloth in preparation for Typhoon #TisoyPH | via @ZyannAmbrosio pic.twitter.com/0nYYI9ca4r

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) December 2, 2019

'LIFE-THREATENING' FORCE

Waves more than 3 meters high can hit coastal town in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes, while coastal areas in Batangas, Quezon, Albay and Marinduque may experience waves of up to 3 meters, said PAGASA.

From Monday night, "frequent to continuous heavy to intense rains" will lash Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Southern Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon, warned PAGASA.

Samar, Eastern Samar, Rizal, rest of Quezon, Laguna and Oriental Mindoro will experience frequent to continuous heavy rains, while moderate to intermittent heavy rains is expected over Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, the rest of CALABARZON, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora and the rest of Eastern Visayas, PAGASA added.

The weather agency also hoisted storm signal 3 over the following areas, which may be whipped by 121 to 170 kph winds:

Catanduanes
Camarines Sur
Albay
Sorsogon
Camarines Norte
Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
Romblon
southern portion of Quezon (Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Unisan, Pitogo, Gumaca, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Francisco, San Andres)
Marinduque

Northern Samar
northern portion of Eastern Samar (Can-avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, Arteche, Jipapad, San Policarpio)
northern portion of Samar (Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Jose de Buan, San Jorge, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Matuguinao, Calbayog, Tagapul-an, Almagro, Sto. Niño)

The following areas, which may be battered by 61-120 kph winds, were under Signal no. 2:

Metro Manila
Bulacan
Bataan
Tarlac
Pampanga
Nueva Ecija
southern Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, San Luis, Dingalan)
Cavite
Batangas
Laguna
Rizal
rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands
Oriental Mindoro
Occidental Mindoro
Calamian Islands
Zambales

rest of Eastern Samar
rest of Samar
Biliran
Aklan
Capiz
Antique
Iloilo
northern portion of Negros Occidental ( Talisay, Calatrava, Silay, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias, Manapla, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante, Toboso)
Northern Cebu (Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Medellin, Bogo City, San Remigio, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Carmen Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, and Camotes Islands)
northern portion of Leyte ( Baybay, Mahaplag, Abuyog, Javier, Macarthur, Mayorga, La Paz, Dulag, Albuera, barauen, Julita, Tolosa, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Dagami, Pastrana, Palo, Sta. Fe, Tacloban, Alangalang, Jaro, Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Tunga, Carigara, Capoocan, Leyte, Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palompon, Isabel, Merida, Ormoc)
Guimaras

Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for the latest weather updates.