Bagyong Yolanda PAGASA Update (11PM, November 7, 2013)

Bagyong Yolanda, internationally codenamed Haiyan, has "maintained its course and intensity and continues to threaten Eastern Visayas," the PAGASA said Thursday night.

Bagyong Yolanda satellite image as of 10:30pm, Thursday

In its 11pm bulletin, the state weather said the eye of Bagyong Yolanda is located at 290 km East Southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (10.3°N, 128.3°E) at 10pm. Forecast to move West Northwest at 39 kph, the typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 225 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 260 kph.

Bagyong Yolanda is expected to make landfall tomorrow morning (5am) over Guiuan, Eastern Samar. After hitting Guiuan or Abuyog, Leyte, it is expected to traverse the provinces of Biliran, the Northern tip of Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Romblon, Semirara Island, the Southern part of Mindoro then Busuanga and will exit the Philippine landmass (on Saturday early morning) towards the West Philippine Sea. It will be in the vicinity of Coron, Palawan by tomorrow evening. By Saturday evening, it will be at 934 km West Northwest of Coron, Palawan or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

PAGASA has raised Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) over the following areas:

PSWS #4 (winds of more than 185 kph is expected in at least 12 hrs) - Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte Biliran Province, extreme Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island, Capiz, Aklan, and Northern Antique;

PSWS #3 (winds of 101-185 kph is expected in at least 18 hours) - Ticao Island, Sorsogon, Romblon and Calamian Group of Islands, rest of Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Northern Negros Occidental, Northern Negros Oriental, Bohol, Northern Cebu including Cebu City and Camotes Island, Siargao Island and Dinagat Province;

PSWS #2 (winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hours) - Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Albay, Extreme Northern Palawan and Burias islands, rest of Negros Occidental, Rest of Negros Oriental, Siquijor, rest of Cebu, Camiguin, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur and Agusan del Norte;

PSWS #1 (winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours) - Metro Manila, Bataan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Southern Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, rest of Northern Palawan including Puerto Princesa, Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Sur.

The state weather bureau also released the following advisories:

• Estimated rainfall amount is from 10.0 - 30.0 mm per hour (Heavy - Intense) within the 600 km diameter of the Typhoon.
• Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.
• Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal #4, #3,#2 & #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal #4, #3 and #2 are alerted against storm surges which may reach up to 7-meter wave height.