Pepito rapidly intensifies into typhoon

Cyclone Pepito may reach super typhoon category with its rapid intensification over the eastern seaboard of the country as it is expected to traverse Southern Luzon tonight, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

- By ROMINA CABRERA

It could make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes tonight or early Sunday morning but its path could still shift.

Pepito (international name ManYi) was last monitored at 465 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, moving west-northwestward at 30 km per hour.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

The cyclone is forecast to pass over the landmass of Bicol Region, Quezon province, Central Luzon and Pangasinan.

However, PAGASA said Pepito may still pass over other parts of the country, including the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Albay or Sorsogon, or even the eastern coast of Northern Samar today.

A landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Quezon province or Aurora on Sunday is also not ruled out.

It will emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Sunday evening or Monday morning.

“It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA said.

Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2 has been raised over the eastern portion of Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar and the northeastern portion of Samar.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Aurora, Quezon, eastern portion of Laguna, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate, as well as the rest of Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar and Biliran.

Meanwhile, Ofel weakened into a severe tropical storm as it exited the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday afternoon.

It was still packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph when monitored 205 km west of Itbayat, Batanes.

Signal No. 1 was still raised over Batanes as Ofel was forecast to recurve toward the sea southwest of Taiwan last night.