Manila: Typhoon Uwan, known internationally as Fung-wong, has weakened as it traverses the coastal waters of Bacnotan, La Union, early Monday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The center of the typhoon’s eye was pinpointed over Bacnotan’s coastal waters in PAGASA’s 5 am advisory.
According to Philippines News Agency, Typhoon Uwan now carries maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center, with gusts reaching up to 230 km/h, while advancing west-northwestward at a speed of 25 km/h. The typhoon’s strong to typhoon-force winds extend outward up to 780 kilometers from its center.
Signal No. 4 remains raised over several areas including Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales. In these regions, typhoon-force winds ranging from 118 to 184 km/h are anticipated within 12 hours, presenting significant threats to life and property.
Signal No. 3 is in effect over parts of Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Quirino, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, and Bataan. Meanwhile, Signal Nos. 2 and 1 continue over other regions of Luzon and parts of the Visayas.
Heavy to intense rainfall is expected across Northern and Central Luzon, potentially triggering flooding and rain-induced landslides, particularly in susceptible areas. Typhoon-force winds may cause significant damage to structures and power lines in areas under Signal No. 4, while storm-force and gale-force winds are projected to have moderate impacts in regions under lower warning levels.
A gale warning is still in place over the seaboards of Luzon and the western seaboard of Western Visayas. Seas along the coasts of La Union and northern Pangasinan may reach heights of up to 12 meters, posing risks to mariners.
PAGASA has also cautioned about life-threatening storm surges exceeding 3 meters along low-lying and exposed coastal communities in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and parts of Western Visayas.
The typhoon is projected to continue its west-northwestward trajectory over the next 12 hours before shifting northwest to north over the West Philippine Sea, where it may regain strength by Tuesday and Wednesday. By midweek, Typhoon Uwan is expected to curve northeastward toward the Taiwan Strait, where it is likely to weaken again before making landfall over western Taiwan on Thursday.
