Severe Tropical Storm Paolo nears northern Luzon, Signal No. 3 raised in 10 areas

Severe Tropical Storm Paolo has intensified and is nearing northern Luzon, prompting PAGASA to raise Signal No. 3 in ten areas.

As of Friday morning, Paolo was located 150 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 100 kph and gusts up to 125 kph.

The storm is moving west-northwestward at 20 kph and may reach typhoon strength before making landfall later today.

Areas under Signal No. 3 include the northern portion of Aurora, the central and southern portions of Isabela, the northern portion of Quirino, the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the southeastern portion of Abra, the northern portion of Benguet, the central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur, and the northern portion of La Union.

Storm-force winds are expected to extend up to 350 kilometers from the center of Paolo.