As Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) continues to affect the Visayas region, it is also progressing toward typhoon category, according to PAGASA's 8 a.m. advisory.
As of the mentioned time, Tino is moving west-southwestward at 25 km/h and is located 60 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 135 km/h, and is forecasted to reach typhoon status within the next 12 hours.
As per PAGASA, Tino might make its initial landfall on the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, or Dinagat Islands by midnight or tomorrow, 4 November, before traversing through Visayas and Northern Palawan and emerging through the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday.
The southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes), alongside Dinagat Islands, Siargao, and Bucas Grande Islands, is placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3, where storm-force winds are observed.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 includes the central and southern portions of Eastern Samar, the central and southern portions of Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Bohol, the northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan Islands, and Camotes Islands, and the northeastern portion of Negros Occidental with Mindanao areas, the rest of Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur, and the northeastern portion of Agusan del Norte.
Strong winds under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 will affect Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, the southern portion of Quezon, the southern portion of Marinduque, Romblon, the central and southern portions of Oriental Mindoro, the central and southern portions of Occidental Mindoro, Cuyo Islands, and Calamian Islands, Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, the rest of Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, the rest of Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique including Caluya Islands, the rest of Surigao del Sur, the northern and central portions of Agusan del Sur, the rest of Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and the northern portion of Bukidnon.
Aside from the Wind Signals, storm surge warnings are being observed in the following areas – Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Samar (Western Samar), and Surigao del Norte, under heightened alert with an estimated 3 meters of storm surge. Everyone living close to the coastline is advised to stay away in the meantime.
The Northeast Monsoon following TINO will continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts over areas not placed under Wind Signals, such as Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol Region.