Typhoon Yolanda Threatens Eastern Visayas - PAGASA (November 7, 2013 Update)

Typhoon Yolanda is threatening Eastern Visayas, the PAGASA said Thursday, November 7, 2013

Typhoon Yolanda satellite image as of 10:30am, November 7

In its 11am bulletin, PAGASA said Typhoon Yolanda was located at 738 km Southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 10:00am. Forecast to move to move West Northwest at 30 kph, the tropical cyclone is packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph.

PAGASA added that Typhoon Yolanda is expected to make landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Friday morning, between 9am to 10 am. After hitting Guiuan, it is expected to traverse the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Northern tip of Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Romblon, Semirara Island, Southern part of Mindoro then Busuanga and will exit the Philippine landmass (Saturday Morning) towards the West Philippine Sea. It will be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday morning.

The state weather bureau has hoisted Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) over the following areas:

PSWS # 3 (winds of >100 to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours): Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Siargao Island and Dinagat Province;

PSWS #2 (winds of >60 to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours): Sorsogon, Masbate
Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Biliran Province, Bantayan, Camotes Islands, Northern Cebu, Cebu City, Bohol, Surigao Del Norte, Camiguin, Surigao Del Sur, and Agusan Del Norte; and

PSWS #1 (30-60 kph winds may be expected in at least 36 hours): Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Mindoro Provinces, Burias Island, Romblon, Marinduque, Calamian Group of Island, Southern Quezon, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Rest of Cebu, Siquijor, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Sur.

PAGASA said that Typhoon Yolanda will yield an estimated rainfall amount of 10-30 mm per hour (Heavy-Intense) within the 600 km of its diameter.

"Sea travel is risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon," it said. "Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal #3,#2 & #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal #3 and #2 are alerted against storm surges which may reach up to 7-meter wave height."

The next bulletin will be released at 5pm. (Update: Read the 5pm bulletin here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2013/11/pagasa-raises-signal-number-4-over-5.html)