TYPHOON Tino (international name Kalmaegi) maintained its strength early Wednesday after making its seventh landfall over Palawan province, the state weather bureau said.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Tino made landfall over Batas Island in Taytay, Palawan around 4:10 a.m., marking its latest crossing after earlier hitting Silago, Southern Leyte; Borbon, Cebu; Sagay City, Negros Occidental; San Lorenzo, Guimaras; Iloilo City; and the Cuyo Islands.
As of 6 a.m., the typhoon’s center was located over the coastal waters of Linapacan, Palawan, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts reaching 165 kph. It is expected to move across northern Palawan and exit into the West Philippine Sea later Wednesday morning.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 remains in effect over the northernmost portion of Palawan, including El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, and the Calamian Islands, where typhoon-force winds of 118–184 kph are expected.
Signal No. 3 covers Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas, and the Cuyo Islands, which may experience storm-force winds of 89–117 kph.
Signal No. 2 is up over central Palawan—including Puerto Princesa City and the Cagayancillo Islands—and parts of Mindoro, where gale-force winds of 62–88 kph may occur.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is hoisted over other portions of Mindoro, Romblon, southern Palawan, Kalayaan Islands, Aklan, Antique, parts of Capiz and Iloilo, and Guimaras.
Pagasa warned of significant to severe wind impacts in areas under higher signals.
Heavy rainfall is expected across MIMAROPA and Western Visayas due to Tino, the shear line, and the northeast monsoon. Residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas are urged to stay alert and follow evacuation advisories.
The weather bureau also issued a gale warning over the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the seaboards of Western Visayas.
Very rough seas up to six meters are forecast along the seaboards of northern Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, while waves up to 4.5 meters are likely over Antique, Kalayaan Islands, and parts of Mindoro. Sea travel remains risky for all vessels.
Possible life-threatening storm surges exceeding three meters may affect coastal communities in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique within the next 24 hours.
PAGASA said Tino could re-intensify within 12 hours and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, a tropical depression outside PAR was last spotted 1,830 km east of southern Mindanao, carrying maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph as it moves southeastward at 20 kph.
While still too far to affect the country, Pagasa said it may intensify into a tropical storm by Wednesday evening and could enter PAR between Friday night and Saturday morning, when it will be named Uwan.
