Brace for heavy rains in Northern Luzon as 'Lawin' nears

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau advised yesterday residents of Northern Luzon to prepare for heavy rains and strong winds as super typhoon “Lawin” (international name Jelawat) accelerated closer to Cagayan province.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised public storm warning signal number 2 over the Batanes group of islands, Cagayan, Calayan and Babuyan group of islands as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

PAGASA said Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes islands would experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas.

Signal no. 1, meanwhile, was hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra and Isabela. These provinces will have rains with gusty winds, PAGASA said.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with occasional light to moderate rains and thunderstorms, it said.

PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said Lawin was forecast to hit the northernmost tip of Cagayan this morning.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos urged local officials in areas along the path of the typhoon to take appropriate steps to avoid severe damage and casualties.

“Lawin is very strong and has very wide circulation,” Ramos warned.

“This means that the rains and gusty winds could be felt in Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao and Ilocos Norte,” he said. – With Raymund Catindig