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Strong typhoon blows for Philippines

Khalid802

Khalid802

Moderator
Strong typhoon blows for Philippines; 1,000s flee

By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines – The strongest typhoon to threaten the Philippines in recent years menacingly roared toward the country's north Sunday, prompting thousands of villagers to flee to safety and sparking massive emergency preparations.

Typhoon Megi had sustained winds of 140 miles (225 kilometers) per hour and gusts of 162 mph (260 kph) by nightfall but could strengthen as it moves west at 14 mph (22 kph) over the Philippine Sea. Forecasters said it's expected to slam into Cagayan province Monday morning.

With its ferocious wind, Megi has become the strongest typhoon to threaten the country in four years, government forecasters say. A 2006 howler with 155-mph (250-kph) winds set off volcanic mudslides that buried entire villages, killing about 1,000 people.

Weather officials issued the highest of a four-tier public storm alert for Cagayan and nearby Isabela province, warning of pounding rains and fierce wind that could significantly damage agriculture, residential areas, power and communications. They urged all outdoor activities to be cancelled and advised one family member to stay awake overnight for any contingency.

Thousands of military reserve officers and volunteers were on stand by, along with helicopters, including six Chinooks that were committed by U.S. troops holding war exercises with Filipino soldiers near Manila, said Benito Ramos, a top disaster-response official.

Rescue boats and thousands of food packs have been pre-positioned near vulnerable areas, he said, adding that schools along the typhoon's path would be closed.

The weather bureau has warned fishermen and travelers to stay out of harm's way.

"This is like preparing for war," Ramos, a retired army general, told The Associated Press. "We know the past lessons and we're aiming for zero casualties."

An angry President Benigno Aquino III fired the head of the weather bureau in July for failing to predict that a typhoon would hit Manila. More than 100 people were killed in Manila and outlying provinces by that storm.

Authorities planned to start evacuating residents Sunday in and near areas where storm surges, flooding and landslides could happen. Dozens of families voluntarily moved out of their homes to safer ground Saturday in mountainous Isabela, Ramos said, estimating at least a few thousands of people have evacuated from their homes there and in Cagayan by Sunday night.

In nearby Cagayan, a vast agricultural valley crisscrossed by rivers and creeks, authorities have ordered villagers to move out of high-risk neighborhoods in 12 coastal towns.

"If nobody will budge, we may carry out forced evacuations," said Bonifacio Cuarteros of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office.

Farmers in Cagayan, a rice- and tobacco-producing region of more than 1 million people about 250 miles (400 kilometers) northeast of Manila, have been warned to harvest as much of their crops as possible before Typhoon Megi hits or risk losses, Cuarteros said, adding the typhoon would hit amid the harvest season.

With its current course and speed, the typhoon is expected to barrel across the northern tip of Luzon island then blow into the South China Sea late Monday toward northern Vietnam or southern China, weather bureau official Nataniel Servando said.

China's National Meteorological Center issued its second-highest alert for potential "wild winds and huge waves," warning vessels to take shelter and urging authorities to brace for emergencies, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
Click to expand...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_asia_typhoon

Damn this looks like a really nasty typhoon!!
Ingat ka guys (Take care). Hope there's not many of you living in Cagayan Province.
 
there's a supertyphoon? ~_~

thanks for the heads-up Khalid.

It's raining like crazy here. ^_^
 
To fellow Pinoys.

To fellow Pinoys.

Please pray for our fellow Pinoys from Northern Luzon for their safety and guidance. They can make it through the storm. Just hang on and help is coming for you.
 
Ondoy or Juan??

ah. crap. I hope we won't have Frank V2.

Good luck Luzonians. Kaya niyo yan. YOu've been through a lot before.
 
Metro Manila/NCR is about fine. PAGASA (Our local weather bureau) warned of the worst--- it did not come but i'll take that miscalculation/mis forecast anyway, at least everyone has got time (and attitude) to prepare.

Casualties i believe are minimal and this happened North of NCR which really was the center of the storm.
 
Storm Katrina is another disaster for the Philippines. Sigh
 
i just want to share this site that i have found. maybe somebody seen this. its about typhoon dodong and typhoons in the Philippines..
 
Typhoon Juaning Update as of 5:00 PM July 27, 2011


Typhoon Juaning Update: As of 5:00 PM, July 27 2011, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) released the tenth severe weather bulletin regarding the status of tropical cyclone Juaning (international name: Nock Ten). According to PAGASA, tropical storm "JUANING" has slightly weakened as it interacted with the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon after it made landfall. (View previous weather update 11:00 AM - 7/27/11, 5:00 AM - 7/27/11)

The location of the center is now located at 60 km Northeast of Baguio City (as of 4:00 PM). Juaning has maximum winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. The typhoon is moving northwest at 17 kph. (Suspension of classes for tomorrow July 28, 2011 at different levels is not yet announced by government agencies)

As predicted by PAG-ASA, Juaning will be crossing the Northern Luzon area by Wednesday night, will be at 240 km West Northwest of Loaog City on Thursday afternoon (July 28, 2011) and 520 km west of Basco Batanes by Friday morning (July 29, 2011).
Satellite Image as of 5:00 PM July 27, 2011
Signal No. 2 was raised to the following areas in Luzon as of 5:00 PM (7/27/11)
Ilocos Norte
Abra
Kalinga
Isabela
Ilocos Sur
Mt. Province
Ifugao
La Union
Benguet
Nueva Viscaya
Quirino

Signal No. 1
Aurora
Apayao
Cagayan
Pangasinan
Nueva Ecija
Northern Quezon
Zambales
Pampanga
Tarlac
Bulacan
Bataan
Rizal
Metro Manila
 
Weather: ‘Mina’ weakens further while moving away from PHL

08/29/2011 | 05:33 PM


Tropical storm "Mina" (Nanmadol) weakened further as it moved slowly away from Philippine territory Monday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said "Mina" was estimated at 340 km northwest of Basco, Batanes as of 4 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

PAGASA said "Mina" was moving west-northwest at 7 kph and is expected to be 500 km northwest of Basco, Batanes Tuesday afternoon.

Storm Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the Batanes Group of Islands.

However, PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas, particularly over the western section of northern and Central Luzon, against possible flash floods and landslides. It also warned those living in coastal areas to be alert against big waves generated by monsoon surge.

PAGASA also estimated 10 to 20 mm per hour of rainfall within the 550 km-diameter of "Mina."

Meanwhile, PAGASA warned of strong to gale-force winds expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — KBK, GMA News
 
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