What to expect as 'Lawin' makes landfall

MANILA, Philippines -- Supertyphoon Lawin is expected to make landfall in the Cagayan-Isabela area between late Wednesday and early Thursday.

It may cause heavy, widespread damage, but may weaken as it moves through Northern Luzon.

According to weather forecaster Jori Loiz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Lawin will make its landfall in the Cagayan-Isabela area and move through Northern Luzon, hitting Kalinga, Apayao and Abra, before exiting through the Ilocos region.

Loiz also said that Lawin might cause almost the same amount of damage as Typhoon Yolanda did in Tacloban in 2013.

Areas under Tropical Cyclone Signal Number 5 will likely experience electrical power distribution and communication services being disrupted. Most trees will likely be broken or uprooted. Houses may suffer roof failure and extensive damage to windows and doors.

Winds with speeds of more than 220 kph will likely cause widespread damage to high-risk structures, heavy damage to medium-risk structures, and very heavy damage to low-risk structures. Structures made of light materials will likely be totally damaged. All signs and billboards are likely to be blown down.

Wave height in the open seas will likely reach 14.0 meters, storm surges at 3 m are possible in coastal areas.

Areas under Signal Number 4 will likely experience widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services. Some big trees like acacia and mango will be uprooted or broken while dwarf or hybrid coconut trees will be tilted or downed. Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses.

Winds of 171-220 kph will likely cause very heavy damage to high-risk structures, heavy damage to medium-risk structures, and moderate damage to low-risk structures.

Structures made from light materials may likely have considerable damage, while majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed.

Wave height in the open seas will likely reach 14.0 meters, storm surges of 2-3 m are possible in coastal areas.

Areas under Signal Number 3 meanwhile are likely to experience widespread distribution of electrical power and communication services. Almost all banana plants will be downed while some big trees like acacia and mango are likely to be broken or uprooted. Dwarf type or hybrid coconuts are likely to be titled or downed while rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses.

Winds of 121-170 kph may cause heavy damage to high-risk structures and moderate to heavy damage to medium-risk structures. Dilapidated residential structures and houses of light materials will likely be damaged, while houses of medium strength material like timber and some warehouses or bodega type structures may be unroofed

Wave heights in the open seas may reach up to 14 meters with a possibility of storm surges in coastal areas.

Areas under Signal Number 2 are likely to experience some old, wooden electric posts being tilted or downed. There may be some damage to poorly-constructed signs or billboards. Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties and other structures of light materials may be partially or totally unroofed.

Winds of 61-120 kph may generally bring light to moderate damage to exposed communities with only light to moderate damage to high-risk structures,very light to light damage to medium-risk structures, and no damage to very light damage to low-risk structures. Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of trees may be broken or downed, while rice and corn crops may be adversely affected.

Wave heights in open seas may reach from 4.1-14.0 meters with storm surges possible in coastal areas.

Areas under Signal Number 1 are likely to experience slight damage to some houses made of very light materials. Makeshift structures in exposed communities may also be damaged.

Winds of 30-60 kph may cause very light to no damage to low-risk structures and light damage to medium- to high-risk structures. Some banana plants may be tilted with a few downed. Leaves will generally be damaged. Twigs of trees may be broken. Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when in the flowering stage.

Wave height in open seas may reach 1.25-4.0 meters.