'Lawin' maintains strength, makes landfall over Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines -- Supertyphoon Lawin maintained strength Wednesday night and made landfall over Peñablanca, southern Cagayan past 11 p.m., PAGASA said.

In its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the state weather bureau said the supertyphoon would make landfall between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Thursday, when a new severe weather bulletin will be released. The supertyphoon was reported to have made landfall a few minutes after the briefing.

PAGASA said that as of 10 p.m., the eye of Supertyphoon Lawin was 95 km east of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan. It had maximum sustained winds of up to 225 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 315 kph. 

Lawin may weaken into a typhoon after making landfall and is expected to move west northwest at 25 kph. It will cross the provinces of Apayao and Ilocos Norte after making landfall, PAGASA said.

Rainfall within Lawin's 800-km diameter is expected to be moderate to heavy and sea travel will be risky over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Samar.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 5 is raised over the following areas:

• Cagayan
• Isabela
• Kalinga
• Apayao
• Northern Abra
• Ilocos Norte

Signal No. 4 is raised over the following areas:

• Rest of Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• Mt. Province
• Ifugao
• Calayan Group of Islands

Signal No. 3 is raised over:

• La Union
• Benguet
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• Northern Aurora

The following areas are under Signal No. 2:

• Batanes Group of Islands
• Pangasinan
• Rest of of Aurora
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• Northern Zambales
• Northern Quezon including Polillo Islands

Signal No. 1 is raised over:

• Rest of Zambales
• Bulacan
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• Rizal
• Rest of Quezon
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Metro Manila

Forecast Positions

24 Hour (Thursday evening): 330 km West Northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (OUTSIDE PAR)(19.5°N, 117.8°E)

48 Hour (Friday evening):805 km West Northwest of Basco, Batanes (OUTSIDE PAR)(23.2°N, 114.8°E)

 72 Hour (Saturday evening): 995 km Northwest of Basco, Batanes (OUTSIDE PAR)(27.5°N, 116.0°E)

•96 Hour (Sunday evening):990 km North of Basco, Batanes (OUTSIDE PAR)(29.3°N, 122.5°E)