By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, July 6 (PNA) –Tropical storm “Egay” maintains strength and continues to move northward slowly, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday.
In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Samuel Duran said that as of 4 p.m. the center of Tropical Storm “Egay” was located at 200 km Northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (19.5°N, 119.3°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
It was forecast to move Northwest at 7 kph slowly and expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday evening, heading towards Taiwan, Duran said.
Duran said ‘Egay’ was expected to dissipate for not sustaining its circulation despite in the sea.
He said public storm warning signal no. 2 has been lifted but signal no. 1 (30-60 kph winds is expected in at least 36 hours) still hoisted in Luzon over the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra, Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Northwest of Cagayan and Apayao.
Residents in mountainous and low lying areas of the provinces under PSWS #1 as well as the rest of Northern and Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
The estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.
Fisher folks and small sea crafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon.
Duran said the weather bureau continued to monitor the tropical storm with international name Cham-Hom outside PAR.
He noted the two tropical cyclones would be inside the PAR at the same time. Storm Cham-Hom is expected to enter country by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
Once the severe tropical storm enter PAR, it will be locally named “Falcon”, the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second for the month of July.
PAGASA sees that once ‘Falcon’ enters PAR, it may not directly affect the country as it moves towards the Northern tip of the country. However, it may enhance the southwest monsoon that will continues to bring rains in Luzon and Visayas.
PAGASA expects three to five tropical cyclones to enter PAR this month of July.
Meanwhile, PAGASA sees ‘Egay’ to move over Batanes group of islands by Tuesday, bringing moderate to heavy rains and occasional gusty winds in the area.
The western section of Central and Northern Luzon, Cagayan Valley Region, Metro Manila, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA are expected to experience rains due to the effect of Southwest Monsoon or “Habagat.”
Visayas and Bicol region will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
By Wednesday (July 08), the tropical cyclone with the international name “Chan-Hom” is expected to enter the PAR that will again enhance “Habagat,” which will cause moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Western Visayas, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bataan, Zambales, Cagayan Valley Region and Metro Manila.Residents of these areas were alerted on possible flashfloods and landslides.
It is expected that “Egay” will continue to move at northward direction and will exit PAR in the evening of Thursday (July 09). Bicol region, Cagayan valley and the rest of Visayas will experience cloudy with light to moderate rains while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Throughout the rest of the outlook (July 09 – 13), the enhanced “Habagat” will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over western section of Northern and Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Western Visayas. Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley and the rest of Visayas will experience cloudy with light to moderate rains while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. “Chan-hom” is expected to exit par on Thursday evening or Friday morning.
This outlook will be updated as soon as significant changes in the weather pattern occur. (PNA)