‘Kammuri’ almost stationary, but on track toward PH — Pagasa
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2019 10:30:08 +0000
AN impending super typhoon is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on the weekend of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the state-run weather bureau said on Friday.
In its 5 p.m bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Kammuri” was last spotted at 1,455 kilometers east of Southern Luzon, but still outside the PAR.
It has been almost stationary in the past six hours although it was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 170 kph.
Weather expert Raymond Ordinario said Kammuri was expected to enter PAR on Saturday evening or Sunday morning and would be named “Tisoy,” the 20th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.
Tisoy is expected to make landfall in Virac, Catanduanes on Tuesday. Signal No. 1 may be raised as early as Sunday over the eastern portion of the Bicol Region-Eastern Visayas area because of its wide radius.
Ordinario said Kammuri may bring moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms starting on Monday over the Bicol Region and Samar provinces.
The weather expert said Signal No. 3 may also be raised in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Most of the areas in Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Southern Luzon, and Metro Manila will experience strong winds and heavy to intense rains on these days, Pagasa said.
The weather bureau said that maritime travel may be cancelled in these areas.
Weather specialist Chris Perez said that while Tisoy may also develop into a super typhoon, that possibility was less likely to happen at the moment.
“Bagamat sa ngayon, maliit pa ang tyansa, we’re not ruling out the possibility na pwede pa itong maging isang super typhoon (While the possibility is there, we’re not ruling out the possibility that it could intensify into a super typhoon),” Perez said.
Anticipating the severe effects of Tisoy, Perez showed a historical record of typhoons with the same track that could be used as models for disaster preparedness.
Typhoon Glenda has recorded 106 deaths and P38 billion in damage to properties in 2014 while Typhoon Reming brought 734 deaths and P5.4 billion in damage to properties in 2014. FRANZ LEWIN EMBUDO, DIVINA JOY DELA CRUZ