'Quiel' to cross 5 provinces; 10 Luzon areas under storm signal 3

Typhoon Quiel (Nalgae) maintained its strength after making landfall over Isabela before noon Saturday, and is expected to cross five provinces before exiting northern Luzon in the afternoon, even as 10 provinces are placed under Storm Signal 3. In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Quiel was estimated at 40 km north of Casiguran, Aurora as of 10 a.m. PAGASA said Quiel, which made landfall over Dinapigue in Isabela around 9 a.m., still packed maximum sustained winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph. The typhoon is forecast to move West at 26 kph and is expected to cross Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet and will exit La Union Saturday afternoon, it added. By Sunday morning, PAGASA said Quiel is expected to be 400 km west of Baguio City. By Sunday afternoon it is expected to be 700 km west of Baguio City. Under Storm Signal No. 3 are:

- Isabela - Northern Aurora - Mt. Province - Ifugao - Nueva Vizcaya - Quirino - Benguet - Ilocos Sur - La Union - Pangasinan

Under Storm Signal No. 2 are:

- Cagayan - Apayao - Ilocos Norte - Abra - Kalinga - rest of Aurora - Nueva Ecija - Tarlac - Pampanga - Zambales - Bulacan - Northern Quezon - Polillo Island

Under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

- rest of Quezon - Camarines Norte - Rizal - Bataan - Cavite - Laguna - Batangas - Lubang Island - Babuyan Island - Calayan Group of Islands - Metro Manila

PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. It also reminded residents in coastal areas to be alert against big waves or storm surges. Also, it said Quiel is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring scattered to widespread rains over Southern Luzon. Rainfall at dams PAGASA estimated Quiel will bring 200 to 400 mm of rainfall over the Magat Dam catchment. It also estimated a total rainfall of 100 to 150 mm over San Roque Dam catchment areas until 8 a.m. Sunday. The estimated total rainfall over Angat Dam catchment due to the monsoon is from 80 to 100 mm starting later Saturday. PAGASA also said the estimated rainfall within Quiel's 500-km diameter will be from 15 to 25 mm per hour. Meanwhile, PAGASA said residents in Metro Manila can see the outer spiral of Quiel. "If you are in NCR (National Capital Region) and you look outside, it is cloudy and windy. That will be the outer spiral of typhoon Quiel," it said in its Twitter account. "Take note that TY QUIEL has a diameter of 500 kms. That means the a substantial part of Luzon will be directly affected by the TY," it added. — LBG, GMA News