Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong) maintained its strength late Sunday as it lashed the Bicol Region with destructive winds and heavy rain.
According to PAGASA, Uwan is expected to make landfall in central Aurora late Sunday or early Monday at or near peak intensity, potentially placing Calaguas and Polillo Islands in the eyewall. At 10 a.m., the typhoon’s eye was over the coastal waters of Pandan, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph, gusts up to 230 kph, and a central pressure of 935 hPa. The storm was moving west-northwest at 30 kph, with typhoon-force winds extending up to 800 km from its center.
Life-threatening winds and storm surges are affecting Bicol and may soon hit the eastern coast of Central Luzon. PAGASA has issued the following Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals:
- Signal No. 5: Central Aurora, Polillo Islands, northern Camarines Norte, eastern Camarines Sur, Catanduanes.
- Signal No. 4: Southern Isabela, Quirino, eastern Nueva Vizcaya, rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, parts of Bulacan, Pampanga, Quezon, Camarines provinces, northeastern Albay.
- Signal No. 3: Southern Cagayan, rest of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya, parts of Cordillera, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Marinduque, Sorsogon, Ticao and Burias Islands, Northern Samar.
- Signal No. 2: Remaining areas in Cagayan, Apayao, parts of Mindoro, Romblon, Masbate, Samar, Biliran, Leyte.
- Signal No. 1: Batanes, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, parts of Visayas, northern Negros, Dinagat Islands, Surigao provinces.
After crossing Northern Luzon’s mountains, Uwan is expected to weaken slightly but remain a typhoon through Lingayen Gulf by Monday, then turn north toward the Taiwan Strait and make landfall over western Taiwan by Thursday.
PAGASA warned of storm surges exceeding three meters in coastal areas of Cagayan, Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Quezon, Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar. Waves could reach 14 meters off eastern Luzon and 8–10 meters along northern coasts. The bureau said conditions are extremely dangerous for vessels, urging mariners to remain in port or seek shelter.
Widespread heavy rainfall is expected across Luzon, Palawan, the Visayas, and Mindanao, with strong to gale-force winds forecasted by Monday. Residents in high-risk areas are urged to follow evacuation orders and local advisories, as catastrophic conditions may occur even outside the cyclone’s forecast path.
