QUEZON CITY, May 8 (PIA) -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) compared Typhoon Dodong to the strength shown by Typhoon Santi in October 2013 which brought heavy rains to Luzon causing massive flooding.
'Dodong' packs a maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph as observed at 10AM today located at 480 km East Northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar.
PAGASA reported that areas within the typhoon’s 300 diameter may experience heavy to intense rain.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) have identified provinces as most likely to be affected by the typhoon. Listed on Red Alert are the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Batanes, Cagayan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Quirino.
The DILG has already made clear to the local government units the minimum critical awareness actions to do when their province is included in the alert list.
Typhoon Dodong is expected to pass close to Bicol region and Samar provinces tomorrow morning (May 9) which may bring in occasional rains and gusty wind over Northern Samar and Bicol region tonight.
Sea condition is seen to be rough to very rough over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and Visayas.
Storm signal 1 was hoisted earlier over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Polillo Island, and Northern Samar.
PAGASA will issue its next bulletin at 5PM and it expects Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 to be possibly raised over the provinces of Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Rizal, Quezon and Nueva Ecija.
As “Dodong” makes landfall on Sunday morning at 9 to 10AM in Aurora or Isabela, PAGASA expects it to weaken with the presence of Sierra Madre. It may also shift a bit of its track.
It may affect Metro Manila but the nearest it can get near is 250 kilometers Northeast on Saturday late evening until early morning of Sunday.
“Dodong” is likely to exit Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday morning (May 12). (PIA/Frances Mae Macapagat)