Northernmost islands to feel brunt of ‘Helen’

STILL REELING from a recent destructive storm, residents of extreme northern Luzon, particularly Batanes and the Babuyan islands, are bracing once more for Typhoon “Helen” which will begin to affect them tonight.

The weather bureau warned that Helen (international name: Megi) may intensify from its 140-kilometers per hour winds and 175-kph gusts when it barrels by Batanes from Monday night to Tuesday morning.

“It will pass closest to Batanes… There’s a high probability it will intensify but it will not reach supertyphoon level,” meteorologist Gener Quitlong said on Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Helen’s eye will pass 255 km north of Batanes on Tuesday morning if it keeps to its west northwest track.

While it is not expected to make landfall in the island province, Helen’s 600-km diameter will encompass Cagayan and Ilocos Norte as well.

On Sept. 14, Typhoon “Ferdie” (Meranti) caused widespread damage in Batanes, forcing the declaration of a state of calamity.

Helen is expected to be out of the country’s area of responsibility by Tuesday night, Pagasa said.

On Sunday, Pagasa placed Batanes and the Babuyan islands under typhoon warning signal no. 1.

Pagasa said a new weather disturbance is seen to develop from a low pressure area over the northwestern Pacific by Wednesday. Dona Z. Pazzibugan