Super Typhoon ‘Hanna’ Enhances ‘Habagat’; Flashfloods, Landslides Warning Up in Mindanao

(PNA) — Flashflood and landslides threaten Mindanao due to rains brought by southwest monsoon enhanced by the typhoon with international name “Soudelor” on Wednesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 4 a.m. Wednesday,the eye of Typhoon Soudelor which is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) was located based on all available data at 1,495 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan (19.4°N, 135.7°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.

The typhoon is expected to enter the PAR between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and once inside the PAR it will be locally named “Hanna”, the eight tropical cyclone to affect the country this year and first for this month of August.

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”.

He said that although it is still outside the PAR it has enhanced habagat that bring monsoon rains over Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides while cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Visayas and the province of Palawan.

He added the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will continue to experience fair with partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.

Aurelio said the state-run weather bureau also issued a gale warning due to the effects of southwest monsoon enhanced by the passing typhoon as sea condition will be rough to very rough due to strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the eastern seaboards of Visayas and seaboard of Mindanao.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough while light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest to west with slight to moderate seas will be experienced over the rest of the country. (PNA) JBP/CLTC