After ‘Tino’, another powerful storm brewing

National

JUST days after Typhoon Tino devastated Cebu and parts of the Visayas, another powerful storm is brewing over the Pacific.

This is one that forecasters warn could intensify into a supertyphoon before making landfall early next week.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued an advisory on Wednesday, Nov. 5, confirming that a tropical depression located 1,835 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by late Friday or early Saturday.

Once it enters PAR, the system will be locally named Uwan.

According to Pagasa’s Tropical Cyclone Advisory No. 3, the tropical depression currently packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is moving eastward at 10 kph over the Pacific waters south of Guam.

Pagasa said the system is forecast to move erratically over the next 24 hours before tracking northwestward and then west-northwestward, heading toward Luzon.

On its current path, Uwan could rapidly intensify into a typhoon by Friday and reach supertyphoon strength by Saturday.

“There is an increasing chance of landfall over Northern or Central Luzon by Monday, November 10, or Tuesday, November 11,” Pagasa said. “The highest possible wind signal under the current forecast scenario is Signal No. 5.”

The bureau added that Uwan may make landfall “at or near its peak lifetime intensity,” warning of potentially life-threatening winds, torrential rain, and storm surges in its projected path.

Pagasa said strong winds and heavy rains may begin affecting the eastern portions of Luzon and Samar Provinces by Friday evening or Saturday morning, prompting the possible hoisting of early tropical cyclone wind signals.

The weather bureau also warned that storm surge alerts could be issued by Saturday, with the risk of coastal flooding along the eastern seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon.

Mariners are advised to take precaution as seas are expected to become rough to very rough starting late Friday or Saturday over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, and the eastern coasts of Visayas and Mindanao. Gale warnings for dangerous sea conditions may be raised by Saturday.

While the system has not yet entered PAR, Pagasa said it currently poses no direct effect on any part of the Philippines.

However, authorities are urging the public and local disaster risk reduction offices to closely monitor official updates, especially as Uwan intensifies rapidly over the Philippine Sea.

The looming supertyphoon comes as Cebu continues to recover from the catastrophic impact of Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), which left nearly 100 people dead and displaced over 120,000 residents across the province.

Cebu City remains under a state of calamity as rescue teams race to clear roads, restore power, and deliver aid to flood-hit communities.

Mayor Nestor Archival earlier appealed for national support and volunteer aid, saying, “Cebu City needs your strength, your time, and your heart.”(TGP)