Most of the vessels whose trips were cancelled due to typhoon Karen were allowed to sail yesterday, according to PO3 George Monel of the Philippine Coast Guard-Visayas.
One of the vessels, Manila-bound passenger vessel MV Pope John Paul II of 2GO Shipping departed at 11 a.m.
Monel said they continue to monitor the weather situation, especially that a new tropical storm has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility around 6 p.m. yesterday and is forecast to intensify into a super typhoon today.
Pag-asa Visayas weather specialist Jhomer Eclarino, however, said no travel advisory has been released yet as well as storm signal but enhanced “habagat” as well as light to moderate rainfall brought about by the typhoon is expected in Cebu.
Eclarino said that isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms were expected in Cebu last night, with moderate to rough seas expected all throughout the Visayas.
According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather bulletin as of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of the typhoon locally known as Lawin (international name: Haima) was located 1,245 kilometers east of Legazpi, Albay. The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.
Eclarino said typhoon Lawin is expected to make a landfall in Cagayan and other areas in northern Luzon on Thursday morning.
Eclarino said typhoon Lawin is still within the “typhoon” category based on their latest data although it is expected to intensify.