What we know so far about potential Super Typhoon Fung-Wong

Fung-Wong is now a severe tropical storm and is forecast to intensify into a super typhoon.

As of 11 a.m., PAGASA said the center of Fung-Wong was spotted 1,315 km east of Eastern Visayas. 

The storm packs maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph. It's moving west northwestward at 20 kph with a central pressure of 980 hPa, per the state weather bureau.

Strong to storm-force winds extend outward up to 720 kilometers from its center.

According to PAGASA, it's forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by late evening on Friday, Nov. 7, or early Saturday, Nov. 8. It will be locally named Uwan.

Track, intensity in the coming days

Fung-Wong will move generally west-northwestward in the coming days, per PAGASA.

The severe tropical storm is forecast to make landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or the northern portion of Aurora on Sunday evening, Nov. 9 or early Monday, Nov. 10.

"After landfall, this TC will traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine sea on Monday morning or afternoon," said PAGASA.

Fung-Wong is expected to rapidly intensify and may reach typhoon category in the next 24 hours and super typhoon by Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

"It may also make landfall at or near its peak lifetime intensity," the state weather bureau noted.

Land and water hazards

Tropical cyclone wind signals may be raised over Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga Region Friday afternoon or evening, with the possibility of Signal No. 5 being the highest.

Weather conditions may decline by Sunday, with potentially life-threatening stormy conditions expected over Northern Luzon and parts of Central Luzon on Monday and Tuesday.

A high storm surge risk and coastal flooding are possible, especially in Northern Luzon and the east coast of Central and Southern Luzon.

Moderate to rough seas may start over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on Friday or Saturday. The same is expected for the western and southern seaboards of Luzon by Saturday or Sunday.

Hazardous sea conditions may affect most of Luzon as well as the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao from Sunday onwards. 

LGU preparations

In preparation for the potential impact of Fung-Wong, DILG has called on local government units to clear waterways and drainage systems, inspect roads and bridges, and ensure evacuation centers are ready with adequate supplies. They also urged Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils to plan for preemptive evacuations in high-risk areas.

The Office of Civil Defense is also constantly monitoring the situation so it can warn flood-susceptible LGUs, especially in Southern and Northern Luzon.

According to the PIA Cagayan Valley, Ivatans in Batanes have boarded up their windows with shutters to protect their homes.

Pre-disaster risk assessment and preparation of relief goods have also been done in areas in Isabela.