Friday, August 24, 2012

'IGME' CONTINUES TO AFFECT N. LUZON, 'JULIAN' MOVES CLOSER TO PAR –- PAGASA


MANILA, Aug. 24 (PNA) -- Typhoon “Igme” (Tembin) has made a landfall in southern Taiwan but it still continues to affect extreme northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said Friday.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Forecaster Chris Perez said as of 4 a.m. Friday, typhoon "Igme" was located north northwest of Basco, Batanes (22.2°N 121.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. It is forecast to move west southwest at 15 kph.

Meanwhile, typhoon “Julian” (Bolaven), Perez will not affect the country as of early Friday but continues to move closer.

He said typhoon "Julian" as of 4 a.m. was located at 1,050 km east of Basco, Batanes (20.1°N 133.2°E) with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 15 kph.

He added that "Igme" is expected to be out of PAR by Friday afternoon or evening.

He added that there is a chance that the two disturbances would interact or a “Fujiwhara effect” , where the stronger one may affect the weaker one.

He said that since “Igme” is slowing down, there is now a “higher chance” that “Julian” could get near to it, affecting its movement.

Perez said one scenario is that “Igme” may exit the country but will make a brief return so it would follow Julian.

With the Fujiwhara effect, he said Igme will likely stay near extreme Northern Luzon until Julian exits.

However, Perez said that based on the present models both cyclones have a slim chance of making landfall in any part of the country even if “Igme” returns to PAR.

Perez said "Igme" is still affecting the areas extreme Northern Luzon as public storm warning signal number 2 remains hoisted over the Batanes Group of Islands, while storm warning signal number 1 was raised over Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands.

PAGASA said typhoon "Igme" will bring from 10 - 20 mm per hour (moderate - heavy) rainfall within the 500 km diameter of the Typhoon.

"Igme" is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA said that "Igme" is forecast to make a counter-clockwise looping motion within the next 24-48 hours due to its interaction with Typhoon "Julian".

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon due to big waves generated by Typhoon "Igme".

Meanwhile, Julian is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring intermittent light to moderate rains over Metro Manila, Luzon and Visayas, particularly on its western sections, this weekend.

The rest of the country, PAGASA added, will have partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

PAGASA also said strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the northern and eastern 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. (PNA)

Source : PTVNEWS