Photo credit: DOST_Pagasa

After days of battering parts of Luzon with strong winds and heavy rains, Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) has finally weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm as it moved outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Tuesday morning.

According to PAGASA’s latest bulletin, Uwan’s center was last spotted 370 kilometers west-northwest of Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and gusts reaching up to 135 km/h. It’s now moving north-northwest at 10 km/h and is expected to continue drifting away from the country.

While the storm is weakening, Signal No. 2 remains raised over Batanes and parts of Ilocos Norte, where gale-force winds may still bring minor to moderate threats to life and property. Signal No. 1 is still up in nearby provinces, including Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Sur, and parts of Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, and the Cordillera Region.

PAGASA reminds residents not to be complacent. Even outside PAR, Uwan’s wide circulation continues to bring gusty winds and scattered rains across most of Luzon and parts of Visayas, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

The weather bureau also issued a Gale Warning for the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, warning that waves could reach up to 8 meters high. Sea travel is risky and strongly discouraged for all types of vessels until conditions improve.

Uwan is forecast to follow a northward path and may re-enter PAR by Wednesday evening as it moves closer to Taiwan. However, it is expected to keep weakening and could become a remnant low by Friday.

Authorities urge the public and local disaster units to remain alert and follow any evacuation orders, especially in flood- and landslide-prone areas.