MANILA – Carina has further intensified and is now a typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, the weather bureau said Monday.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Carina was last tracked 420 km. east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, slowly moving northeastward.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes, the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga) including the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Is., Babuyan Is.), and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon). Minimal to minor impacts are likely in these areas due to strong winds.

Strong to gale-force gusts caused by the southwest monsoon (habagat) remain likely in Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and the Visayas.

“Habagat” will bring monsoon rains over Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro, and occasional rains over Metro Manila, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Aklan, Antique, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo islands.

Carina and “habagat” will continue to cause moderate to rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, and western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, and Western Visayas.

PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft, including all types of motorbancas, not to venture into the sea.

Meanwhile, PAGASA forecast Carina to remain far from landmass, and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility either Wednesday night or Thursday.

Carina is also expected to steadily intensify, PAGASA said.

2 national roads affected

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday reported that two national road sections in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) and Cordillera Administrative Region have been affected by bad weather due to the two weather systems.

In an update, the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance said the road section in Sitio Klondykes, Camp 1, Tuba, Benguet is only accessible to light vehicles due to rockfall.

Meanwhile, the DPWH said the Zamboanga City Bypass Road, Barangay Malagutay Section was closed to traffic due to landslides.

The DPWH Zamboanga City District Engineering Office Quick Response Team has installed warning signs and barricades.

It added that clearing operations on the affected road section have started. (with report from Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)