Severe Tropical Storm Paolo nears Northern Aurora, Southern Isabela landfall

Severe Tropical Storm Paolo has slightly intensified and is nearing Northern Aurora and Southern Isabela, with PAGASA forecasting landfall between these provinces on Friday morning or around noon.

As of 4 am, the storm's center was located 150 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, and it is moving west-northwestward at 20 km/h.

Paolo now has maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h and gusts of up to 125 km/h.

Further intensification into a typhoon prior to landfall is not ruled out, according to PAGASA.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over several areas in Luzon.

There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights reaching 1.0 to 3.0 meters over coastal localities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Quezon.

Moderate to torrential rain is expected in several provinces, and the storm's trough may trigger scattered rain and thunderstorms in the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas.