‘Lawin’ intensifies but storm signals lifted—Pagasa

Source: Project Noah | September 24, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Public storm warning signals were terminated Monday, even as typhoon Lawin (international name Jelawat) intensified over the Philippine Sea.

Lawin was last seen 480 kilometers east of Legazpi City, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

It was moving north northwest at 7 kph.

By Tuesday morning Lawin was seen 420 km east of Virac; 530 km east of Casiguran in Aurora by Wednesday morning; and 480 km east of Aparri, Cagayan by Thursday morning.

Lawin will bring heavy to intense rains within its 700 km diameter, and will also enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring moderate to heavy rains in Visayas and Mindanao.

Fishing boats and other small vessels were advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Occasional light to moderate rains and thunderstorms were seen in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon, while northern Luzon will be partly cloudy with brief rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the north to northwest will prevail over the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas and coming from the west to southwest over the rest of Visayas and Mindanao and coastal waters will be moderate to rough, Pagasa said.