Typhoon Marce continues to strengthen as it ‘dangerously’ approaches Cagayan
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Marce (Yinxing) continued to intensify late Thursday morning, November 7, with its maximum sustained winds increasing further from 165 kilometers per hour to 175 km/h.
The typhoon’s gustiness is now up to 215 km/h from the previous 205 km/h, added the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a briefing past 11 am on Thursday.
Marce was already 115 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, as of 10 am. It is “dangerously approaching” northeastern Cagayan as it moves west northwest at only 10 km/h, PAGASA said.
The typhoon is still projected to make landfall in, or pass very close to, Babuyan Islands and/or the northern parts of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao from Thursday afternoon to early Friday morning, November 8.
“It must be emphasized, however, that regardless of landfall area, potentially life-threatening conditions due to typhoon-force winds, storm surge inundation, and torrential rainfall will be experienced” in those areas mentioned, the weather bureau said.
While Marce may weaken starting Thursday afternoon “due to interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon” and dry air from the northeasterly windflow, it is expected to remain a typhoon and would still pose a threat until it leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon or evening.
More areas were placed under Signal No. 4 as of 11 am on Thursday. Below is the updated list of areas where tropical cyclone wind signals are in effect.
Signal No. 4
Typhoon-force winds (118 to 184 km/h), significant to severe threat to life and property
- northern part of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Lal-lo, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Gattaran, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Lasam) including Babuyan Islands
- northern part of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Flora, Calanasan, Pudtol)
- northern part of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, Vintar, Dumalneg, Adams, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Burgos)
Signal No. 3
Storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h), moderate to significant threat to life and property
- Batanes
- rest of Cagayan
- rest of Apayao
- rest of Ilocos Norte
- northern part of Abra (Tineg, Danglas, Lagayan, Lacub, San Juan, La Paz, Bangued)
- northern part of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo)
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- northern and central parts of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Divilacan, Tumauini, Maconacon, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Palanan, Ilagan City, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Quirino, San Mariano, Gamu, Roxas, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Benito Soliven, Luna, Aurora, San Manuel, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, Cauayan City, Cabatuan)
- rest of Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- northern part of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Banaue, Hungduan)
- northern part of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan)
- rest of Ilocos Sur
- northern part of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar, Balaoan, Luna, Santol)
Signal No. 1
Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- rest of La Union
- Pangasinan
- rest of Ifugao
- rest of Benguet
- rest of Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- northern and central parts of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
- northern part of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan)
- northern part of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria)
The northeasterly windflow and the “periphery” of the typhoon are bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas, too:
Thursday, November 7
- Zambales, Bataan, Polillo Islands
Friday, November 8
- Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Region
Saturday, November 9
- Batanes, Babuyan Islands
For rainfall, PAGASA also issued an updated advisory at 11 am on Thursday. Northern Luzon continues to face moderate to torrential rain, with floods and landslides likely.
Thursday noon, November 7, to Friday noon, November 8
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 millimeters): Cagayan, Apayao
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Abra
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): La Union, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao
Friday noon, November 8, to Saturday noon, November 9
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 mm): Ilocos Norte
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Babuyan Islands
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): mainland Cagayan, Batanes, Kalinga, La Union, Abra, Mountain Province
On Thursday, Marce’s trough or extension will also bring scattered rain and thunderstorms to Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes. Flash floods or landslides are possible during periods of moderate to at times heavy rain.
In addition, there is still a high risk of “life-threatening” storm surges “with peak surge heights exceeding 3 meters” in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union in the next 48 hours.
ALSO ON RAPPLER
- Trump’s return to power fueled by Hispanic, working-class voter support
- How human trafficking syndicates lure victims who turn into online scammers
- Kelly Williams repays Chot Reyes’ trust with key Game 5 performance
For sea conditions in the next 24 hours, below is PAGASA’s latest outlook.
Up to very rough, high, or very high seas (travel is risky for all vessels)
- Seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte; northern seaboards of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 12 meters high
- Remaining seaboard of Cagayan – waves up to 8 meters high
- Seaboards of Batanes and northern Ilocos Sur – waves up to 7 meters high
- Remaining seaboard of Ilocos Sur; seaboard of Isabela – waves up to 6 meters high
- Remaining seaboard of Ilocos Region – waves up to 5 meters high
- Seaboards of northern Zambales and northern Aurora – waves up to 4.5 meters high
Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)
- Seaboards of Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 4 meters high
- Northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; seaboards of Camarines Norte; northern seaboards of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur; remaining seaboard of Zambales – waves up to 3.5 meters high
- Eastern seaboard of Catanduanes; seaboard of northern Quezon; remaining seaboard of Aurora; western seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Islands, mainland Palawan, and Calamian Islands – waves up to 3 meters high
Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)
- Northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar – waves up to 2.5 meters high
- Western seaboard of Occidental Mindoro; eastern seaboards of Camarines Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur – waves up to 2 meters high
Marce is the Philippines’ 13th tropical cyclone for 2024, and the first for November.
PAGASA previously estimated that one or two tropical cyclones could form within or enter PAR in November.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said early Thursday that the weather bureau is monitoring cloud clusters outside PAR. A low pressure area might form within one to two days and possibly enter PAR during the weekend. This potential LPA could become a tropical cyclone next week, added Estareja. – Rappler.com