Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 is in effect over several areas as Typhoon Emong maintained its strength while nearing landfall over western Pangasinan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
As of Thursday, the center of the eye of Typhoon Emong was estimated over the coastal waters of Burgos, Pangasinan. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 165 km/h.
Signal No. 4 has been hoisted over the following areas:
Southwestern portion of Ilocos Sur: Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Tagudin
Northwestern portion of La Union: Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, San Fernando City
Extreme northwestern portion of Pangasinan: Agno, Bani, Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos
Signal No. 3 is raised over:
Southern portion of Ilocos Norte: Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Nueva Era, City of Batac, Marcos, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Pinili, Badoc
The rest of Ilocos Sur
The rest of La Union
Northern and western portions of Pangasinan: Burgos, Dasol, Mabini, Lingayen, Bugallon, Infanta, Labrador, Sual, Dagupan City, San Fabian, Binmaley
Abra
Western portion of Mountain Province: Besao, Tadian, Sagada, Bauko
Western portion of Benguet: Sablan, Kapangan, Mankayan, Tuba, Bakun, Kibungan
Signal No. 2 is in effect over:
The rest of Ilocos Norte
The rest of Pangasinan
Apayao
Kalinga
The rest of Mountain Province
Ifugao
The rest of Benguet
Babuyan Islands
Northern and western portions of mainland Cagayan: Rizal, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Allacapan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Santo Niño, Piat, Tuao
Western portion of Nueva Vizcaya: Kayapa, Santa Fe, Ambaguio, Aritao, Bambang, Bayombong, Villaverde, Solano, Bagabag
Northern portion of Zambales: Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Palauig, Iba
Signal No. 1 is hoisted over:
Batanes
The rest of Cagayan
Western and central portions of Isabela: Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Ramon, Cordon, Burgos, Cabatuan, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Gamu, Luna, Maconacon, Alicia, San Mariano, Naguilian, San Guillermo, City of Cauayan, Echague, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, Divilacan, San Isidro, Jones
Quirino
The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
The rest of Zambales
Northern portion of Bataan: Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Morong
Tarlac
Northern portion of Pampanga: Porac, Floridablanca, Angeles City, Mabalacat City, Magalang
Western and central portions of Nueva Ecija: Carranglan, Lupao, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Aliaga, Zaragoza, San Antonio, Jaen, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Bongabon, Laur
PAGASA warned of a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge, with peak heights reaching one to three meters within 24 hours. Areas at risk include low-lying and coastal communities in Batanes, northern mainland Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales.
Typhoon Emong is forecast to make landfall or pass very close to western Pangasinan Thursday evening. It may also make landfall in La Union or Ilocos Sur late Thursday night or early Friday morning.
The typhoon is expected to cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the Babuyan Channel by Friday morning or noon. Afterward, it is forecast to move northeastward and pass near or over the Babuyan Islands between Friday noon and afternoon, and possibly pass near Batanes by Friday afternoon or evening.