#TinoPH slightly intensifies as it moves away from Palawan — PAGASA

Typhoon Tino has slightly intensified as it continues to move away from northern Palawan and over the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Wednesday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Tino’s eye was estimated at 190 kilometers west of Coron, Palawan. The typhoon now packs maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph, moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.

The state weather bureau said strong to typhoon-force winds extend outward up to 300 kilometers from the center, affecting large parts of Palawan and nearby provinces.

Wind signals raised

• Signal No. 4 — Northernmost portion of Palawan, particularly El Nido, where typhoon-force winds of 118 to 184 kph may cause significant to severe threats to life and property.

• Signal No. 3 — Northern Palawan, including San Vicente, Taytay, and the Calamian Islands, where storm-force winds of 89 to 117 kph may bring moderate to significant damage.

• Signal No. 2 — Eastern and central Palawan, covering Puerto Princesa City, Roxas, Dumaran, Araceli, and the Kalayaan Islands, where gale-force winds may result in minor to moderate impacts.

• Signal No. 1 — Occidental Mindoro (including the Lubang Islands), southern Oriental Mindoro (Bongabong, Roxas, Bulalacao, and Mansalay), and southern Palawan (Aborlan, Quezon, Narra, and Sofronio Española), including the Cuyo Islands, where strong winds may cause minimal to minor threats.

Heavy rains, storm surges expected

PAGASA warned that heavy rains, severe winds, and possible storm surges are expected across Palawan and nearby areas. Low-lying and coastal communities are at high risk of life-threatening storm surges exceeding three meters within the next 24 hours.

Strong to gale-force gusts may also be felt in several regions not under any wind signal due to the combined effects of the northeast monsoon, the shear line, and Tino’s trough. These areas include Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Rough seas, risky travel

A gale warning remains in effect over the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the seaboards of Western Visayas. PAGASA cautioned that sea travel remains dangerous for all types of vessels, with very rough to rough seas reaching up to six meters along the northern Palawan seaboards and 4.5 meters along the Calamian and Kalayaan Islands.

Forecast track

The typhoon is expected to continue moving west-northwestward across the West Philippine Sea and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. PAGASA added that Tino could re-intensify within the next 12 hours and reach its peak strength while traversing the open sea.