Storm surge. INVESTIGATOR STOCK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila and parts of Luzon are at “high risk” of storms in the next 48 hours Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi), the state weather bureau warned Sunday morning.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), storm surge is “the abnormal rise in sea level that occurs during tropical cyclones or typhoons.”

“It is caused by the strong winds and low atmospheric pressure produced by tropical cyclones. As a tropical cyclone approaches the coast, strong winds push ocean water towards low-lying coastal areas, which can lead to flooding.” Pagasa warned.

According to Pagasa’s 8am warning, there is a possibility of life-threatening flooding due to rising seawater and high waves in low-lying coastal communities in the following areas:

more than 3 meters

• Aurora
• pangasinan
• Quezon
• Camarines Norte

2 to 1.3 meters

• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• pangasinan
• isabella
• Bataan
• Zambales
• Metro Manila
• Quezon
• Batangas
• cavity
• Marinduque
• Colonel
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduans
• masbate
• sorsogon

1 to 2 meters

• Ilocos Norte
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• pampanga
• Metro Manila

In parallel, the state meteorological service advised people in these areas to stay away from the coast or beach, cancel all sailing activities, and move to higher ground away from the coast and storm surge-prone areas.

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Pepito was moving at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) over the Philippine Sea east of Quezon province, Pagasa said in its 8 a.m. hurricane update.

It maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts up to 255 kilometers per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Warning System Signals (Illustration by Ed Lustan)