‘Mario’ changes course, goes straight up to Taiwan

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Project NOAH MTSAT image as of September 20, 2014, 01:01 AM. Screengrab from https://noah.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical Storm “Mario” has changed its track, this time going straight up, and looks to barge in on Taiwan, the weather bureau said.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that Tropical Storm “Mario” is headed up north for Taiwan at a pace of 17 kilometers per hour.

“Mario,” in the previous Pagasa bulletin, was tracking a west northwest at a pace of 19 kph.

Pagasa added that “Mario” has maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gusts of 90 kph.

“Mario” was last spotted at 10 p.m. at 91 km northeast of Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

As “Mario” moves up to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility, Pagasa raised public storm warning signal no. 2 over Calayan and Babuyan Groups of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

Areas under public storm warning signal no. 2 would experience winds of 61 kph to 100 kph for the next 24 hours.

Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra and Ilocos Sur were placed under public storm warning signal no. 1 and could experience winds with speeds of 30 kph to 60 kph for the next 36 hours.

Pagasa added that “Mario” would intensify the lingering southwest monsoon and would bring moderate to heavy rains in Central Luzon and the rest of Northern Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.