Typhoon Karding (international name Noru) has reached super typhoon category after a period of "explosive" intensification, state weather bureau PAGASA said Sunday morning.
Karding, the 11th storm to hit the country this year, was spotted 230 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon as of 7 a.m. It packs maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts up to 230 km/h, moving west at 20 km/h.
Karding is expected to continue intensifying and could landfall at or near a peak intensity of 185-205 km/h, PAGASA said.
The storm is likely to make landfall in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon or the southern portion of Aurora on Sunday night, with an earlier landfall or close approach in the vicinity of Polillo Islands possible, it added.
"Frictional effects during landfall and traverse of the Luzon landmass will weaken Karding throughout the evening through tomorrow early morning, although it is highly likely that this tropical cyclone will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass," PAGASA said.
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Signal No. 4 (typhoon-force winds) is hoisted over:
- Polillo Islands
Signal No. 3 (storm-force winds) is up over:
- The central and southern portions of Aurora (Dingalan, San Luis, Baler, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao)
- The central and southern portions of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Rizal, Llanera, Science City of Muñoz, Guimba, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Nampicuan, San Antonio, Cabiao, San Isidro, City of Gapan, Zaragoza, Jaen, Licab, Quezon, Aliaga, Santa Rosa, San Leonardo, Santo Domingo, Talavera, Cabanatuan City, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Peñaranda, General Tinio, Laur, Gabaldon
- Bulacan
- The eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, Arayat, Santa Ana, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit)
- The northern portion of Metro Manila (Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Navotas, Malabon, Caloocan, Valenzuela)
- The northern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, Tanay, Baras, City of Antipolo, San Mateo, Cainta, Taytay, Angono, Teresa, Morong, Pililla)
- The northeastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Mabitac, Paete, Kalayaan, Pakil)
- The northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real, General Nakar, Mauban), and the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga)
Signal No. 2 (gale-force winds) is prevailing over:
- The southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones)
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Benguet
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Tarlac
- The rest of Pampanga
- The rest of Nueva Ecija
- The rest of Aurora
- The rest of Metro Manila
- Cavite
- Batangas
- The rest of Laguna
- The rest of Rizal
- The central portions of Quezon (Calauag, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Sampaloc, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Pitogo, Dolores, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, San Antonio, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista)
- The rest of Camarines Norte
- The northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Libmanan, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando, Pili, Minalabac, Ocampo, Tigaon, Cabusao, Magarao, Gainza, Canaman, Camaligan, Milaor, Naga City, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Sagñay)
- Catanduanes
Signal No. 1 (strong winds) is up over:
- The southern portion of Cagayan (Tuao, Solana, Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Peñablanca)
- The rest of Isabela, the southern portion of Apayao (Conner)
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- The southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, Banna, City of Batac, Currimao, Paoay, Marcos)
- Ilocos Sur
- The rest of Quezon
- The northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz) including Lubang Islands
- The northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan), Marinduque
- The rest of Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- Ticao Island
Moderate to heavy rains are expected on Sunday morning through early afternoon over Isabela, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Isabela, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may occur over mainland Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, and the rest of Bicol Region.
By early Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are possible over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands.
Karding is forecast to track generally west southwestward or westward in the next six to 12 hours, then westward or northwestward for the remainder of the day, PAGASA said.
It will then pass over Central Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea over the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan. The typhoon will then continue moving westward over the West Philippine Sea for the remainder of the forecast period, it added.
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