‘Marce’ shows might, Signal No. 4 raised in parts of Cagayan

State weather bureau PAGASA hoisted tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 4 on mainland Cagayan and warned of “a high-risk of life-threatening storm surge” early Thursday morning as Typhoon ‘Marce’ reached peak intensity while preparing to make a landfall.

Covered under the said wind signal are the municipalities of Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Lal-Lo, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona and Sanchez-Mira in Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands and the northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela).

In its 5:00 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA warned of storm surge with heights exceeding over 3.0 meters over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union.

‘Marce’ was last spotted at 200 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan moving west northwestward at 15 km per hour. It had maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 190 km/h.

Cagayan and Apayao are experiencing intense to torrential rains, according to PAGASA. Nearby provinces Ilocos Norte, Batanes and Abra are likewise under heavy to intense downpour. Moderate to heavy rains fall on Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, Isabela and Mountain Province.

The rest of northern Luzon are placed under the following wind signals:

· TCWS No. 3 -The southern portion of Batanes (Mahatao, Uyugan, Basco, Ivana, Sabtang), the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Abra (Tineg)

· TCWS No. 2 – The rest of Batanes, the northern and central portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Divilacan, Tumauini, Maconacon, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Palanan, Ilagan City, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Quirino, San Mariano, Gamu, Roxas, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Benito Soliven, Luna, Aurora, San Manuel, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Cabatuan), the rest of Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, the northern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Banaue, Hungduan), the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan), Ilocos Sur, and the northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar, Balaoan, Luna, Santol)

· TCWS No. 1 – The rest of La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan), and the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria)