‘Nanmadol’ intensifies into a typhoon; ‘Habagat’ affects most of PH

by Charie Mae F. Abarca, Manila Bulletin

The weather disturbance outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has intensified into a typhoon, the state weather bureau confirmed on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 15.

Typhoon Nanmadol was last spotted 1,655 kilometers (km) east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon outside PAR with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph), and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It is moving northeastward at 15 kph and it remains less likely to directly affect the country. However, PAGASA warned that this weather disturbance is expected to further enhance the southwest monsoon, locally called “habagat.”

(PAGASA / Himawari)

The typhoon-enhanced southwest monsoon will then bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Palawan, Mindoro provinces, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi within the forecast period.

Residents of these areas were advised to remain vigilant against possible flash floods and landslides that may occur during moderate to heavy rains.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers may prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country due to the southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, the latest forecast track for typhoon Nanmadol showed that the cyclone will still enter the Philippine boundary.

“Posible pa rin itong pumasok ng PAR bukas, ngunit ito ay [inaasahang] dadaplis lamang dito sa northeastern na kanto ng ating PAR. Pagpasok nito bukas ng umaga ay lalabas [din ito] either hapon o gabi (It may still enter PAR tomorrow, but it is expected to just pass in the northeastern corner of the country’s area of responsibility. When it enters tomorrow morning, it will also exit the Philippine boundary either in the afternoon or evening),” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Raymond Ordinadio.

“Halos isang araw lang itong mananatili sa ating area of responsibility kaya wala itong magiging direktang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng bansa (It will only stay in our area of responsibility for almost one day so it will not have a direct effect on any part of the country),” he furthered.

Nanmadol will be given the domestic name Josie once inside the Philippine boundary.

Typhoon Inday exits PH area of responsibility; another tropical cyclone may enter PAR by Sept. 15 or 16

(PAGASA FACEBOOK PAGE)

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

Typhoon Inday (international name: Muifa) left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Tuesday morning, Sept. 13, the State weather bureau said, as it monitors another tropical cyclone that may enter the PAR by Thursday or Friday, Sept. 15 or 16.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Inday left the PAR at around 12:40 a.m., and was already 560 kilometers (km) north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes as of 4 a.m.

It had maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

While the typhoon has already left the PAR, PAGASA said the extreme Northern Luzon may still experience wind gusts.

In the next 24 hours, the entire archipelago will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of rain showers or localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, PAGASA continues to monitor another tropical depression outside the PAR as of Tuesday morning.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the tropical depression was estimated at 1,720 km east of extreme Northern Luzon.

It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, while moving eastward “slowly.”

“Modest intensification is likely today (Sept. 13) through tomorrow (Sept. 14). By Thursday (Sept. 15), improving environmental conditions will enable the tropical cyclone to intensify at a relatively faster rate. Current forecast scenario shows that this tropical cyclone will enter the PAR as a typhoon,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the cyclone may enter the PAR by Thursday or Friday, and once inside the PAR, the domestic name “Josie” will be assigned to this tropical cyclone.

Aurelio said that based on the latest track forecast, the tropical depression may only pass through the right corner of the PAR.

“This tropical cyclone is forecast to remain far from the Philippine landmass and not directly affect the weather condition in the country,” PAGASA said.

“However, it may enhance the southwest monsoon within the forecast period. This may bring monsoon rains over the western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas beginning tomorrow (Sept. 14) or on Thursday (Sept. 15),” it added.