Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) made its seventh landfall early Wednesday over Batas Island in Taytay, Palawan, while maintaining its strength, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported.

“Based on our latest analysis and data, the center of Typhoon Tino has made landfall once again over Batas Island in Taytay, Palawan Province,” weather specialist Loriedin De La Cruz-Galicia said during PAGASA’s 6 a.m. online briefing.

The typhoon made landfall at around 4:10 a.m. and is expected to continue crossing northern Palawan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea later Wednesday morning.

Before reaching Palawan, Tino had already made landfall in six other areas: Silago in Southern Leyte; Borbon in Cebu; Sagay City in Negros Occidental; San Lorenzo in Guimaras; Iloilo City; and the Cuyo Islands.

As of 5 a.m., the center of Tino was located over the coastal waters of Linapacan, Palawan, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 165 kph.

Wind signals raised

PAGASA has raised several Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) over parts of Palawan and nearby provinces:

• Signal No. 4 — Northernmost portion of Palawan, including El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, and the Calamian Islands, where typhoon-force winds of 118 to 184 kph are expected.

• Signal No. 3 — Northern Palawan, including Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas, and the Cuyo Islands, which may experience storm-force winds of 89 to 117 kph.

• Signal No. 2 — Southern portions of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, and Calintaan) and Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao), as well as central Palawan including Puerto Princesa City and the Cagayancillo Islands, where winds of 62 to 88 kph are likely.

• Signal No. 1 — Remaining areas of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, western Romblon, southern Palawan (Aborlan, Quezon, Narra, and Sofronio Española), Kalayaan Islands, Aklan, the rest of Antique, parts of Capiz and Iloilo, and Guimaras.

PAGASA warned of significant to severe impacts in areas under Signal No. 4 and moderate to significant impacts in those under Signal No. 3.

Heavy rains, rough seas, and storm surges

The weather bureau said heavy rainfall is expected over MIMAROPA and Western Visayas due to the combined effects of Tino, a shear line, and the northeast monsoon or amihan. Residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas are urged to remain vigilant and follow evacuation advisories from local officials.

Strong to gale-force gusts are also expected across Luzon and Visayas, particularly in coastal and upland areas, due to the surge of the northeast monsoon and the typhoon’s trough.

A gale warning remains in effect over the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the seaboards of Western Visayas. Very rough seas reaching up to six meters are forecast over the seaboards of northern Palawan, including the Calamian and Cuyo Islands, while seas up to 4.5 meters may affect Antique, the Kalayaan Islands, and the southern seaboard of Occidental Mindoro.

Sea travel remains risky for all types of vessels, and mariners are advised to stay in port until weather conditions improve.

PAGASA also warned of possible life-threatening storm surges exceeding three meters along coastal communities in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique within the next 24 hours.

Possible re-intensification

The weather bureau said Tino could re-intensify within the next 12 hours and may reach its peak strength before possibly exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, a separate tropical depression outside the PAR was spotted 1,830 km east of southern Mindanao. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph, moving southeastward at 20 kph.

“It is still far away and currently has no direct effect on any part of our land areas,” Galicia said, adding that the system may strengthen into a tropical storm or severe tropical storm by Wednesday evening.

“Based on our projection, it may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday evening or Saturday morning. Once it enters, it will be named Typhoon Uwan,” she added.