Storm signal no. 3 in 10 areas
MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – Typhoon “Quiel” has intensified further as it continues its westward movement towards Cagayan and Isabela, the state weather bureau said.
In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said the typhoon has gained strength and is now packing winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.
Quiel is expected to make landfall in Cagayan early Saturday morning, instead of Saturday afternoon as earlier predicted.
Public storm signal warning number 3 has been raised over Cagayan, Isabela, northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao and Abra.
Storm signal number 2, meanwhile, was hoisted over rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Calayan Group of Islands and Babuyan Group of Islands.
Storm signal number 1 was raised over northern Quezon, Polillo Island, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and Batanes.
PAGASA said Quiel will not yet enhance the southwest monsoon until it crosses northern Luzon.
Metro Manila will not be directly hit by the typhoon but rains brought by the southwest monsoon are expected by Saturday afternoon.
The weather disturbance is expected to exit through the Ilocos region and will leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday afternoon.
Alert up in northern Luzon
PAGASA officer-in-charge and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul warned residents of northern Luzon that the typhoon may hit the region as early as 4 a.m. on Saturday.
PAGASA has also recommended total evacuation in areas still submerged in floods caused by Typhoon “Pedring.”
“People will die if they will not heed the local authorities,” said Yumul.
Yumul said although the typhoon is only expected to hit the Cagayan area, the whole of northern Luzon will be affected because of the typhoon’s cloud band.
Storm surges, meanwhile, are also expected at the eastern part of northern Luzon, said Yumul.
Yumul said the storm surge in Manila Bay during the onslaught of Typhoon “Pedring” on Tuesday is unlikely to happen with the incoming typhoon.
“Hindi natin nakikita na magkakaroon ang kombinasyon ng paghangin na galing sa bagyo at galing sa habagat,” said Yumul.
However, he warned the public to anticipate floods and landslides because the soil can no longer absorb more rainfall, following Pedring’s devastation.
Dam status
Yumul noted that the dams in Magat in Isabela, Pantanbangan in Nueva Ecija, San Roque, Binga and Ambuklao in Pangasinan will start to receive rain again Friday night until Saturday afternoon.
Angat and Ipo dams in Bulacan will receive rains brought by the southwest monsoon by Saturday evening.
Water released from the Angat and Ipo dams goes to Angat River and flows toward the towns of Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Pulilan and Plaridel.
“Whatever water Angat and Ipo dams will be receiving today up to tomorrow will be coming from the waters that are run off from mountains that have received rain from Typhoon ‘Pedring’,” added Yumul.
He stressed that PAGASA only gives recommendations to dam operators regarding releasing water from dams.
PAGASA said the release of water of these dams did not cause the massive flooding in Bulacan.
PAGASA explained that water from Nueva Ecija, Sierra Madre and Pampanga river caused the flooding in Calumpit, Bulacan, which Calumpit Mayor James de Jesus described as the worst in 40 years.
De Jesus said a total of 26,000 families in 22 submerged barangays have been affected by the floods.
SOURCE:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/09/30/11/quiel-hit-north-luzon-early-saturday
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