It’s now Typhoon ‘Luis’; storm alerts up

By: 10 years ago

Satellite Image, September 14, 2014, 11:01 PM. SCREENGRAB from noah.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm “Luis” (international codename: Kalmaegi) is now a typhoon as it moved towards Isabela and Cagayan, which are now under Signal No. 3, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

As of 10 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Typhoon “Luis” was estimated at 290 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

It has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.

Luis is expected to be at 86 km southeast of Tuguegarao City and by Sunday evening at 413 km west of Laoag City or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Meanwhile, Storm Signal No. 2 is up over Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Northern Aurora. These areas are expected to experience winds from 61-100 kph in at least 24 hours, Pagasa said.

Signal No. 1 is raised over Batanes group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, rest of Aurora, Polillo Island and Catanduanes. These areas are expected to experience winds of 30-60 kph in at least 36 hours.

Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal Nos. 3, 2 and 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under Signal Nos.3 and 2 are alerted against storm surges of up to two meters.

Estimated rainfall amount is from 8–20 mm per hour (heavy-Intense) within the 500 km diameter of the Typhoon.

The combined effect of the typhoon and the southwest monsoon will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flasfloods and landslides over Bicol Region and the provinces of Samar and Quezon while light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and of Mindanao.

The public and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) concerned are advised to take appropriate actions.