2015’s Strongest Typhoon to Enter PAR Wednesday, But Won’t Make Landfall

(PNA) — The tropical cyclone with international name “Soudelor” has intensified into typhoon category and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 4 a.m. the eye of Typhoon Soudelor, still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), was located 1,995 kilometers east of Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 210 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 245 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.

Maintaining its speed and movement, Aurelio said Soudelor is expected to enter the eastern boarder of PAR Wednesday and will be given the local name “Hanna”, the eight tropical cyclone to affect the country this year and first for this month of August.

He added Soudelor has high chance to intensify into super typhoon category.

Meanwhile, as per report from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Soudelor has reached the equivalent of category 5 hurricane status on Monday afternoon (eastern time), with sustained winds of 178 mph.

According to same report, Soudelor is now the strongest tropical cyclone on Earth since Super Typhoon Hagupit in December 2014, which also peaked with winds of 180 mph.

Aurelio said Soudelor will not directly affect the country and it is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country but will enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat”. It is expected to affect Visayas and Mindanao.

He noted the typhoon-enhanced “habagat” will bring light to moderate rains over Palawan, Southern Visayas and Mindanao until Friday (August 7) and within this period, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country including Metro Manila.

He added the typhoon is expected to exit PAR by Friday or Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan.

Meanwhile, for Tuesday forecast, Aurelio said a mixture of sunny and rainy weather will continue to prevail across the country.

Aurelio said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Mindanao, Western and Central Visayas and Palawan due to the presence of intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

ITCZ, which is the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia, is considered a breeding ground for low-pressure areas (LPAs) or potential cyclones.

In its advisory, PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the southwest to south over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

The state weather bureau has not issued gale warning as the fisherfolks are safe to venture into the seas. (PNA) JBP/CLTC