Typhoon Yolanda Intensifies, May Enter PAR Wednesday Midnight, Pagasa Says

Weather forecasters said early Wednesday a powerful tropical cyclone heading for the Philippines has intensified into a typhoon and has accelerated.

Pagasa forecaster Manny Mendoza said in a radio interview that the typhoon, internationally named Haiyan, may enter the Philippine area of responsibility as early as midnight Wednesday, having accelerated to 30 kph from 25 kph.

“Kung 30 kph, mas maaga at mapapabilis… probably maaring mamayang hatinggabi or Thursday morning,” Mendoza said.

Authorities said once Haiyan enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), it will be locally named Yolanda.

Pagasa said as of 4 a.m. Wednesday, Haiyan was estimated to be 1,560 km east of Mindanao, with maximum winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Weather authorities has initially projected Haiyan would make a landfall somewhere in the Visayas or Mindanao Friday afternoon before exiting the PAR on Sunday afternoon.

Authorities said if the typhoon moves west, Haiyan may hit the Caraga or Davao region in Mindanao.

Mendoza said the northeast monsoon would affect northern and Central Luzon on Wednesday. The monsoon would bring cloudy skies with rain showers and thunderstorms over the Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos, Gma news online report said.

It added Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms especially in the eastern section.

Meanwhile, reports said Japan Meteorological Agency’s 2:45 a.m. Wednesday update said Haiyan was moving west at 35 kph. The typhoon is expected to affect south Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said that there was no significant change from its earlier forecast, Gma news online said.

Reports said the “Rapid intensification” of Typhoon Haiyan is expected in the next 36 hours, with peak intensity expected over the Philippine Sea.

The JTWC expects typhoon Haiyan to make a landfall in central Philippines, where it will weaken as it encounters land. However, Haiyan will emerge over the West Philippine Sea with a 115 knot (213 kph) intensity, Gma news online reported.

Moreover, authorities said there is a possibility that signal number 4 will be raised in certain areas due to the coming super typhoon.

On Tuesday, Pagasa forecaster Fernando Cada said the cyclone, codenamed Haiyan, may make landfall over Eastern Visayas or the Bicol Region.

“80 percent ng Bicol Region [ang] maaaring tamaan [ng typhoon],” Adornado said.

Source: Gma news online, News Agencies