Thursday, October 29, 2009

Typhoon Santi to hit Central Luzon Saturday morning

Pagasa: Typhoon Santi to hit Central Luzon Saturday morning
GMANews.TV - Friday, October 30
Typhoon “Santi" (international name: Mirinae), the fourth cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility in October, is expected to hit provinces in central Luzon on Saturday morning and may bring heavy rains and winds to Metro Manila, the state weather bureau said Thursday night. In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Santi was last spotted 800 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora province and is moving westward towards central Luzon at 20 kph. Santi maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. Based on the current Pagasa forecast, Santi’s center is expected to hit Aurora province by Saturday morning, and in the vicinity of Nueva Ecija or at 90 km north of Metro Manila by Saturday afternoon. Public storm signal no. 2 was hoisted over Aurora province, Northern Quezon and Polilio Island. Under storm signal no. 1 are the provinces of Isabela, Ifugao, Quirino, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, the rest of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes. Although no storm signal warning was raised over Metro Manila, Pagasa warned of heavy rains and winds that might be experienced over the area. “Kahit ang sentro ni Santi ay dito dumaan sa pagitan ng central at northern Luzon, mararamdaman natin ang ulan at hangin na dala nitong si Santi dito sa Metro Manila," said Pagasa spokesperson Nathaniel Cruz. (Although Santi’s center would pass somewhere between central and northern Luzon, we will feel here in Metro Manila the rains and winds brought by Santi.)
Foreign weather agencies such as the US Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) also forecast Santi to pass through central Luzon on Saturday. STORM WARNING SIGNALS See a more detailed description for each storm warning on Pagasa's website. CLASSIFICATION OF CYCLONES When do we call a storm a storm? State weather forecasters use this guide when classifying weather disturbances visiting Philippine territory. 'Santi' has maximum winds of a tropical typhoon. Source: Pagasa
Earlier on Thursday, Pagasa forecasters said they were studying the possibility of recommending yet another round of water release in major dams in Luzon, which were in the direct path of the typhoon. [See: Water release mulled for dams along Santi's path]
Santi is the nineteenth weather disturbance to hit the country this year and the fourth cyclone (after Pepeng, Quedan, and Ramil) to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this month. - GMANews.TV

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