TROPICAL storm Jolina has rapidly intensified into a typhoon and made landfall in the vicinity of Hernani, Eastern Samar on Monday night, September 6, 2021.
As of 1 a.m. Tuesday, September 7, the center of typhoon Jolina was located in the vicinity of Santa Rita, Samar, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its 2 a.m. bulletin Tuesday.
It was packing sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center with gusts of up to 200 km/h.
Jolina was moving west northwestward at 20 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 has been hoisted over the southeastern portion of Masbate in Luzon; the extreme western portion of Northern Samar, the eastern portion of Biliran, the extreme northeastern portion of Leyte, the western and southern portions of Samar, and the southern portion of Eastern Samar in the Visayas.
Under TCWS No. 2 are Albay, Sorsogon, the rest of Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, the western and southern portions of Camarines Sur, the southeastern portion of Quezon and the eastern portion of Romblon in Luzon; and the rest of Biliran, Northern Samar, Samar and Eastern Samar, and the northern portion of Leyte in the Visayas.
Under TCWS No. 1 are the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte and the northern portion of Cebu (Carmen, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Borbon, Tabogon, San Remigio, City of Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the northeastern portion of Iloilo and the extreme northern portion of Capiz in the Visayas.
Also under TCWS No. 1 are Catanduanes, the rest of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the central portion of Quezon, Marinduque and the rest of Romblon in Luzon; and Dinagat Islands in Mindanao.
TCWS 3 means destructive typhoon-force winds are prevailing or expected within 18 hours. TCWS 2 means damaging gale-force to storm-force winds are prevailing or expected within 24 hours, while TCWS 1 means strong winds are prevailing or expected within 36 hours.
In the next 24 hours, Jolina may bring heavy to intense or torrential rains over Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Sorsogon, Leyte, Biliran and Masbate, Pagasa said.
Moderate to heavy or intense rains are also expected over the southern portion of Quezon, Romblon, Marinduque and the rest of Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region.
Residents are advised to prepare for widespread flooding and landslides, as well as very light to heavy damage to structures and vegetation.
In the next 24 hours, Jolina may also bring rough to very rough seas (2.6 to 4.5 meters) over the seaboards of areas under Signal Nos. 2 and 3, posing risks to all types of seacraft.
Moderate to rough seas (1.28 to 2.8 meters) can be expected where Signal No. 1 is in effect and the eastern seaboards of Mindanao, posing risks to small seacraft.
Typhoon Jolina is forecast to cross Samar and Bicol Region Tuesday, September 7, through Wednesday morning, September 8, before emerging over Lamon Bay at noon Wednesday.
It is then forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of northern Quezon Wednesday afternoon or evening, and traverse Central Luzon for the rest of the day, before reemerging over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday morning, September 9. (CTL)