Super Typhoon Pepito as of 2:00 p.m. on November 16, 2024. Handout/DOST-PAGASAMANILA -- Wind Signal No. 5 has been hoisted in Catanduanes, as the state weather bureau on Saturday warned of a "potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation" in the northeastern Bicol region after Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) further intensified.

Wind speeds in Catanduanes may reach 185 kph or higher, which pose extreme threat to life and property.

Meanwhile, signal No. 4 remains up in the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur and the northeastern portion of Albay, where wind speeds may reach up to 118-184 kph.

In its 2:00 p.m. weather bulletin on Saturday, November 16, PAGASA said that as of 1:00 p.m., the center of Super Typhoon Pepito was located 180 km east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph. 'Pepito' is moving west-northward at 20 kph.

It will make landfall over Catanduanes near or at peak intensity Saturday night or early Sunday. 

The super typhoon will move northwestward offshore Bicol and make landfall over northern Quezon or Aurora Sunday afternoon or evening.

It will cross Central Luzon Sunday evening then emerge over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday.

The following wind signals have been hoisted:

Signal No. 5

• Catanduanes

Signal No. 4

• The northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Tigaon, Sagñay)
• The northeastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu

Signal No. 3

• Polillo Islands
• the southeastern portion of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista)
• Camarines Norte
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• the rest of Albay
• the northern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Barcelona, Castilla, Casiguran, Pilar, Donsol)
• the eastern and central portions of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan, Las Navas, Biri, Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, San Roque, Silvino Lobos, Lope de Vega, San Jose)
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad)

Signal No. 2

• The southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, Cordon, Ramon, Alicia, City of Cauayan, Angadanan, City of Santiago, San Isidro, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Palanan)
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the eastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Umingan, Natividad, San Quintin, Tayug, Santa Maria, Rosales, Balungao, San Manuel, Villasis, Malasiqui, Bautista, Mapandan, Binalonan, Alcala, Asingan, Santo Tomas, City of Urdaneta, Laoac, Manaoag, Bayambang, Santa Barbara)
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija 
• Bulacan
• Tarlac 
• Pampanga
• the southern portion of Zambales (Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio, Castillejos, Subic, Olongapo City)
• Bataan
• Metro Manila 
• Rizal 
• the rest of Quezon
• Laguna 
• Cavite 
• Marinduque
• Burias Island
• Ticao Island
• The central 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

Signal No. 1

• Mainland Cagayan
• the rest of Isabela
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao, Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• the rest of Pangasinan
• the rest of Zambales
• Batangas
• the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan) including Lubang Islands
• the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, City of Calapan, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay)
• Romblon
• the rest of Masbate
• 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)
  
• the northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon)
  

The track and intensity forecast of Super Typhoon Pepito as of 2:00 p.m. on November 16, 2024. Handout/DOST-PAGASA

The monster typhoon will bring very destructive and damaging winds along its immediate path during its passage. Storm surge higher than 3 meters is also expected especially along the seaboards of eastern and southern Luzon and Samar Island.

Up to torrential rains are forecast over Eastern Visayas and Bicol from Saturday through early Sunday and over Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and parts of CALABARZON and Northern Luzon Sunday to early Monday.    

Lahar flow is also possible along the Mayon Volcano slopes in Albay.

The different hazards could lead to catastrophic and life-threatening conditions and cause widespread serious damage, flooding, and landslides in many areas in Luzon and Eastern Visayas, especially along the super typhoon's immediate path.