Palawan: Typhoon Tino, internationally known as Kalmaegi, maintained its strength early Wednesday as it made another landfall in Palawan province, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The typhoon’s center landed over Batas Island in Taytay, Palawan at approximately 4:10 a.m. and is expected to continue its path across northern Palawan before moving over the West Philippine Sea later in the morning.
According to Philippines News Agency, Typhoon Tino had previously made landfall in several areas including Silago, Southern Leyte; Borbon, Cebu; Sagay City, Negros Occidental; San Lorenzo, Guimaras; Iloilo City, and Cuyo Islands. Currently, the center of Tino is positioned over the coastal waters of Linapacan, Palawan, with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 km per hour near the center and gusts up to 165 km per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 has been issued for the northernmost part of Palawan, including El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, and the Calamian Islands, where typhoon-force winds of 118 to 184 km per hour are anticipated. Signal No. 3 affects the northern portion of Palawan covering Dumaran, San Vicente, and Roxas, as well as the Cuyo Islands, which may experience storm-force winds ranging from 89 to 117 km per hour. Meanwhile, areas under Signal No. 2, including parts of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro and central Palawan, could face gale-force winds of 62 to 88 km per hour.
Regions under Signal No. 1, which may encounter strong winds between 39 to 61 km per hour, include the remaining parts of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, western Romblon, southern Palawan, Kalayaan Islands, Aklan, the rest of Antique, parts of Capiz and Iloilo, and the island province of Guimaras. PAGASA has warned of significant to severe impacts in areas under Signal No. 4 and moderate to significant impacts in areas under Signal No. 3.
Heavy rainfall is expected over MIMAROPA and Western Visayas, influenced by Tino, the shear line, and the northeast monsoon. Residents in areas prone to flooding and landslides are advised to stay alert and follow evacuation advisories. The surge of the northeast monsoon and Tino’s trough will result in strong to gale-force gusts across Luzon and Visayas, especially in coastal and upland regions.
A gale warning remains in effect for the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the seaboards of Western Visayas. Very rough seas, reaching up to 6 meters, are anticipated over the seaboards of northern Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Islands. Rough seas up to 4.5 meters may affect Antique, Kalayaan Islands, and the southern seaboard of Occidental Mindoro, making sea travel risky for all vessels.
PAGASA has also warned of potential life-threatening storm surges exceeding three meters along coastal communities in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique within the next 24 hours. Typhoon Tino may re-intensify within 12 hours and possibly reach peak strength before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, a tropical depression outside the PAR was last located 1,830 km east of southern Mindanao, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour and gustiness up to 70 km per hour. Its movement is southeastward at 20 km per hour. Although it currently poses no direct threat, it could intensify into a tropical storm and potentially enter PAR by Friday evening to Saturday morning, upon which it will be named Typhoon Uwan.
