#PepitoPH intensified into a super typhoon and is continuing its track toward the Bicol region, PAGASA reported on Saturday.
In its 11 AM weather bulletin, PAGASA reported that Super Typhoon Pepito is located 185 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 250 km east of Juban, Sorsogon.
It has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h, gusts of up to 230 km/h, and is moving west-northwestward at 25 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 has been hoisted in Catanduanes and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur. Residents in these areas are warned of the potential impacts of winds, which pose a significant to severe threat to life and property.
TCWS No. 3 is in effect in the following areas:
Luzon
- the eastern portion of Camarines Norte
- the northern and southeastern portion of Camarines Sur
- the eastern portion of Albay
- the northeastern portion of Sorsogon
Visayas
- the eastern portion of Northern Samar
- the northern portion of Eastern Samar
Furthermore, TCWS No. 2 is raised in these areas:
Luzon
- the southeastern portion of Isabela
- Aurora
- Quezon
- the eastern portion of Rizal
- Laguna
- the rest of Camarines Norte
- the rest of Camarines Sur
- the rest of Albay
- the rest of Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- Ticao Island
Visayas
- the central portion of Eastern Samar
- the northern portion of Samar
- the rest of Northern Samar
TCWS No. 1 is hoisted in the following areas:
Luzon
- Metro Manila
- Mainland Cagayan
- the rest of Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Nueva Ecija
- Bulacan
- Tarlac
- Pampanga
- Zambales
- Bataan
- the rest of Rizal
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Marinduque
- the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro
- Romblon
- the rest of Masbate
Visayas
- the rest of Eastern Samar
- the rest of Samar
- Biliran
- the northern and central portions of Leyte
- the northeastern portion of Southern Leyte
- the northernmost portion of Cebu including Bantayan Islands
- the northernmost portion of Iloilo
Mindanao
- the northern portion of Dinagat Islands
"There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 m in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Region (western coast), Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Leyte (northeastern coast)," PAGASA said in their weather update.
PAGASA issued a Gale Warning for the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of the Visayas.
Moreover, heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.
Super Typhoon Pepito is nearing its peak intensity.
The next tropical cyclone bulletin is scheduled for release at 2:00 PM today.
