Tropical Storm “Tino” has intensified into a severe tropical storm while moving westward over the Philippine Sea and could trigger rough seas and flooding, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday, November 2.
At 5:00pm, PAGASA located Tino’s center 805 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.
The storm now carries maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 115 km/h while moving west at 30 km/h.
PAGASA said Tino will continue to intensify and may reach typhoon category within 24 hours.
The weather bureau projected Tino to make landfall over Eastern Samar or Dinagat Islands late Monday evening (November 3) or early Tuesday morning (November 4).
Forecasters expect the storm to strengthen further, possibly reaching 150 to 165 km/h winds before landfall.
PAGASA said rapid intensification remains likely in the next 48 hours and did not rule out the possibility of Tino reaching super typhoon status.
It said areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 may experience minimal to minor wind impacts, but warned that higher wind signals could be raised as Tino moves closer to land.
The Northeast Monsoon or amihan will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Region, Ilocos, Aurora, Bulacan, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol Region starting Sunday night until Tuesday.
PAGASA warned that Tino will trigger life-threatening storm surges and coastal flooding within the next 48 hours in low-lying areas of Sorsogon, Masbate, Samar provinces, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Dinagat Islands, Surigao, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.
The agency advised residents to follow evacuation advisories and coordinate with local disaster officials for safety measures.
Risky sea travel
The state weather bureau warned that sea conditions will become very rough to high, with waves reaching up to 7 meters along the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar, 6 meters around Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, and 4.5 meters off Northern Samar.
A gale warning may be raised over the eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas and Caraga Region by early Monday.
PAGASA advised all small boats and fishing vessels to stay in port and avoid sailing until conditions improve.
It also forecasted that the storm will move westward, cross Visayas and northern Palawan, and emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday, November 5.
The storm may weaken slightly after landfall but is expected to remain a typhoon while traversing the country, PAGASA said.
Class cancellations
In Negros Occidental, 31 of 32 local government units (LGUs) have declared the suspension of in-person classes for Monday, November 3, due to the potential effects of Tino, as of 8:30pm, Sunday.
Meanwhile, PAGASA advised the public to monitor official bulletins, prepare emergency supplies, and stay alert for possible wind signal upgrades in the coming hours.
Local governments have been urged to implement precautionary measures, particularly in flood-prone and coastal communities.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.