Supertyphoon Noul; (Dodong) makes landfall in Northern Luzon, PH

Super Typhoon Noul (known as Dodong in the Philippines) made a direct hit on the far northern Philippines on Sunday with strong, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large, battering waves. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 160 mph as the center of Noul moved near the far northern tip of Luzon Island, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The Philippine weather bureau, PAGASA, says that the eye of Noul made landfall late Sunday local time to the east of Santa Ana, Cagayan, near Pananapan Point on the northeastern tip of Luzon. (The Philippines are 12 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Daylight Time.) About 30,000 people live in Santa Ana, which is about 275 miles northeast of the Philippines capital, Manila.

Based on satellite imagery late Sunday, land interaction was weakening Nuol as it passed near the northern tip of Luzon.

(INTERACTIVE: Satellite Image of Noul)

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Infrared Satellite Image

PAGASA issued its highest-possible alert, "Storm Signal No. 4," for winds in excess of 106 mph (171 kph) in northern Cagayan province, Batanes province, and the Bubuyan and Calayan island groups in the far northern part of Luzon.

 In addition to destructive winds, heavy rain, flooding and mudslides are also possible in the northern Philippines along with large, battering waves.

Noul Forecast Path

Latest forecast path and intensity of center of Noul from the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Circles denote uncertainty in location of center at each forecast time period.  (Weather Underground)