AT A GLANCE
- Tropical cyclone Egay intensified into a typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph.
- According to the current forecast scenario, the highest wind signal that may be hoisted is Signal No. 4 or 5.
- While traversing the Balintang Channel, Egay has the potential to become a super typhoon with winds of over 185 kph by Wednesday, July 26.
Tropical cyclone Egay (international name: Doksuri) strengthened into a typhoon as it moved east-northeast across the sea near the Bicol region on Sunday, July 23, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the typhoon was last spotted 490 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, and is moving west-northwestward at 10 kph.
Egay intensified into a typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the northeastern portion of Catanduanes due to the expected strong winds from the approaching storm.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised in the rest of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Quirino, northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, northern portion of Aurora, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar.
“Minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are possible within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 2 was raised. Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are also possible within any of the areas where Wind Signal No.1 is hoisted,” PAGASA said.
According to the current forecast scenario, the highest wind signal that may be hoisted is Signal No. 4 or 5, it pointed out.
(PAGASA)
Egay may become super typhoon by July 26
PAGASA said Egay is expected to continuously intensify in the next few days.
While traversing the Balintang Channel, it has the potential to become a super typhoon with winds of over 185 kph by Wednesday, July 26.
“Interaction with the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon and Southern Taiwan will trigger a period of weakening by late Wednesday as it moves over the waters near Southern Taiwan,” PAGASA said.
Landfall not ruled out
PAGASA said Egay’s track forecast in the current bulletin had a “considerable” shift.
In the next 12 hours, the weather disturbance may move west-northwestward or westward before turning northwest over the Philippine Sea east of Northern and Central Luzon.
“A brief period of west northwestward movement from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning will bring Egay over the Balintang Channel, resulting in a close approach over the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area,” PAGASA said.
“A landfall scenario over Batanes-Babuyan or northeastern mainland Cagayan is not ruled out since this is within the envelope of the forecast confidence cone,” it added.
Egay may leave the country’s area of responsibility on Thursday, July 27.
Brace for heavy to torrential rains
PAGASA warned that Egay may bring heavy to torrential rains over parts of Luzon in the next few days.
On Monday, July 24, Catanduanes, the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur, and northern portion of Camarines Norte may experience heavy rains (50-100 millimeters).
On Tuesday, July 25, intense rains (100-200 millimeters) are expected in Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, while heavy rains may prevail over the rest of Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Apayao.
On Wednesday, July 26, torrential rains (more than 200 mm) may affect Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur.
Intense rains may also persist in Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, the rest of Ilocos Sur, and northern portion of La Union, while heavy rains may prevail over the rest of La Union, Benguet, western portion of Mountain Province, and Kalinga.
PAGASA said the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” enhanced by Egay, may also bring significant rains over the next three days, particularly in Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras.
“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” PAGASA warned.
