As Pepito exits PAR, no new tropical cyclone seen — at least for now

MANILA, Philippines – Pepito (Man-yi) , a super typhoon at its peak, left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as a severe tropical storm at 12 pm on Monday, November 18. As of 4 pm, Pepito was already 410 kilometers west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, still moving west northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h). It currently has maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and gustiness of up to 135 km/h.

At its peak, Pepito had maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h. But it gradually began weakening as it crossed mainland Luzon, and due to “an incoming northeasterly wind surge.” It will continue to weaken outside PAR, and may just be a remnant low on Wednesday, November 20.



The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a briefing past 5 pm on Monday that Pepito is no longer bringing rain or winds to any part of the country. During Pepito’s onslaught, it triggered moderate to torrential rain in much of Luzon and parts of the Visayas. The highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised was Signal No.

5 as Pepito brought destructive winds. Pepito made landfall twice as a super typhoon — first in Panganiban, Catanduanes, at 9:40 pm on Saturday, November 16, then in Dipaculao, Aurora, at 3:20 pm on Sunday, November 17. It had maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h during its first landfall, and 185 km/h during its second landfall.

From Aurora, Pepito crossed Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, and La Union, then left the landmass of Luzon on Sunday evening and headed for the West Philippine Sea. Despite Pepito’s exit from PAR, moderate to very rough conditions will persist in certain seaboards in the next 24 hours. Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels) Seaboard of Batanes – waves up to 5 meters high Seaboards of Ilocos Norte; western seaboard of Babuyan Islands – waves up to 4.

5 meters high Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea) Remaining seaboard of Babuyan Islands – waves up to 3.5 meters high Eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; remaining seaboard of Ilocos Region – waves up to 3 meters high Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible) Remaining seaboard of Cagayan Valley; seaboards of northern Aurora, northern Zambales, and Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 2.5 meters high Remaining seaboards of Aurora and Zambales; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; seaboards of Camarines Norte and Zamboanga del Sur; northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; northern, eastern, and southern seaboards of Catanduanes; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental; southern seaboards of Negros Oriental and Occidental Mindoro; eastern and western seaboards of Calamian Islands; northern seaboard of Cuyo Islands; western seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Islands, Caluya Islands, and mainland Palawan – waves up to 2 meters high PAGASA has explained that wave heights in affected seaboards are “not related to storm surge heights or inundation.

” Separate storm surge warnings due to Pepito were also previously lifted. Meanwhile, the weather bureau also said the surge of the northeasterly windflow enhanced by Pepito will bring strong to gale-force gusts to Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte from Monday to Wednesday. ALSO ON RAPPLER Philippines, US sign intel sharing agreement View from Manila: Hello, Secretary Austin, goodbye [EDITORIAL] Psywar ni Duterte? Pft! Pasalamat tayo sa Saligang Batas [Free to Disagree] The age of narcissism La Salle sees Quiambao’s Gilas stint as ‘win-win’ Pepito, which entered PAR as a severe tropical storm last Thursday, November 14, was the Philippines’ 16th tropical cyclone for 2024.

It was also the fourth tropical cyclone for November alone, after Marce (Yinxing) , Nika (Toraji) , and Ofel (Usagi) . Counting from October 21 to present — starting with Kristine (Trami) and Leon (Kong-rey) — Pepito was already the country’s sixth tropical cyclone in less than a month. PAGASA Weather Specialist Veronica Torres said during Monday’s briefing that there is currently no new low pressure area or potential tropical cyclone being monitored inside or outside PAR.

– Rappler.com.