Manila: Uwan (international name Fung-wong) has weakened into a typhoon after traversing the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon, the weather bureau said Monday. In its 2 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that as of 1 a.m., Uwan was in the vicinity of Bagulin, La Union. It is currently moving northwestward at 30 kph with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 275 kph.
According to Philippines News Agency, PAGASA lifted the highest Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 in four areas after Uwan’s maximum sustained winds dropped below the super typhoon threshold of 185 kph. However, TCWS No. 4 is still raised over several regions including the southwestern portion of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Kalinga, Mountain Province, the southern portion of Abra, Ifugao, Benguet, and the central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur, among others.
TCWS No. 3 remains hoisted ov
er areas like the central and southern portions of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the southern portion of Apayao, the rest of Kalinga, the rest of Abra, the southern portion of Ilocos Norte, the rest of Ilocos Sur, Bulacan, Pampanga, the rest of Tarlac, the rest of Zambales, Bataan, the northern portion of Metro Manila, the northern and eastern portions of Rizal, and the northern portion of Quezon.
The rest of Apayao, the rest of Ilocos Norte, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands, the rest of Metro Manila, the rest of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Marinduque, the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro, and the northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Camarines Norte, the northwestern portion of Camarines Sur, and the rest of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands are under TCWS No. 2.
TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over Batanes, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, and Cagayancillo Islands, the rest of Camarines Sur, Catan
duanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Romblon, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Occidental Mindoro. Additional areas under this signal include Northern Samar, the northern and central portions of Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar, the northern portion of Leyte, Biliran, the northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan Islands, Guimaras, the northern portion of Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique including Caluya Islands.
PAGASA warned of a high risk of life-threatening and damaging storm surge with peak heights exceeding three meters within the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal communities. Uwan is expected to emerge over the coastal waters of La Union on Monday morning. Once over the West Philippine Sea, it will maintain its strength until Tuesday before gradually weakening due to marginally favorable environmental conditions.
