3rd storm to enter Philippines Wednesday

3rd storm to enter Philippines Wednesday The Philippine Star Updated June 18, 2012 11:47 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The third tropical storm may enter the Philippines by Wednesday afternoon, a government weather forecaster said Monday morning. Manny Mendoza, weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said that the incoming storm was spotted at 880 kilometers west of extreme Northern Luzon. Mendoza said that the storm, which is already packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour, may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday afternoon. The storm will be named "Carina" if it enters the PAR. Mendoza said that if the storm changes direction from west to east, it may directly affect parts of extreme Northern Luzon. He also said that the storm may intensify into a typhoon. Meanwhile, PAGASA said that typhoon "Butchoy" has slightly weakened as it continued to move away from the Philippines. It said that as of 10 a.m., the typhoon's center was estimated at 580 kilometers east northeast of Basco town in Batanes province. The typhoon slightly weakened with maximum winds of 160 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 195 kph. It was moving north northeast at 24 kph. PAGASA said that the storm will exit the Philippine area of responsibility and move towards Okinawa, Japan by Tuesday morning. The weather bureau said that Butchoy will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Luzon and Western Visayas, which may trigger landslides and flashfloods. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas due to the big waves generated by the combined effects of Typhoon "Butchoy" and the Southwest Monsoon.," PAGASA said. source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=63&articleid=818520 Date Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012

No landfall for Typhoon Butchoy but creating big waves

Tropical Cyclone Butchoy (Guchol) intensified into a typhoon before noon Saturday and continued to move north-northwest, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

But PAGASA said no storm signals have been raised so far, even as its projections indicate Butchoy is still not likely to make landfall in the Philippines.

Its projection of the path of Butchoy indicated it will not make landfall.

PAGASA defines a typhoon as an intense tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 118 kph.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, it said that as of 10 a.m., Butchoy was estimated at 470 km east-northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar, with maximum winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

PAGASA said Butchoy is expected to be 590 km east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora by Sunday morning and 500 km east-southeast of Basco, Batanes Monday morning.

By Tuesday morning it is expected to be 690 km northeast of Basco, Batanes.

 Flash floods, landslides

While PAGASA said no storm signals have been raised, it warned Butchoy will still enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over Luzon and Visayas, especially over the western section which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

It estimated Butchoy to bring rainfall of 15 to 25 mm per hour (heavy) within its 500-km diameter.

"Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Eastern Mindanao due to the big waves generated by the combined effects of Typhoon 'Butchoy' and the southwest monsoon," it said.

In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte appealed to the public to cooperate with authorities in taking precautions.

Valte said the Department of Public Works and Highways had prepositioned heavy equipment in roads likely to be affected by floods or slides, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development had pre-positioned relief items.

The Department of Health has also pre-positioned quick response teams and medicines, she added.

“(Let’s cooperate with authorities) para maiwasan natin ang makaharap ang isang sakuna dahil nagkaroon na tayo ng warning (Let’s cooperate with authorities to prevent something untoward; we already have a warning from authorities),” she said on government-run dzRB radio. — LBG/HS, GMA News


source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/262140/news/nation/no-landfall-for-typhoon-butchoy-but-creating-big-waves