Typhoon Mina Hits the Blogger

Sorry for the lack of updates. The blogger went up Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Anilao, Batangas last Friday, got hit hard by Typhoon Mina, and was sick the whole Saturday.

Me and my climb buddy thought there'd be no more rain that day. Thursday was quite sunny after all. We reached Peak 1 in a very good weather, although the wind got particularly strong mid-climb. After having lunch and taking a few pictures, rain started to pour. Visibility instantly got obscured by the fog that what we could see clearly became limited to only a few feet around us.

I had my poncho on but I was drenched nonetheless – with sweat. We dropped going to Peak 2 and the Pinagbanderahan summit. There would be another time for that – when the weather is clearer.

I was sniffing by the time we got back to the jump-off. The bath before we left was I think what triggered the fever. What with sweat and rain and aching muscles combined.

But the blogger is well now.

And the blog is back to regular programming.

xoxo

Tropical Storm "Mina" Intensifies But is Not Moving (August 24, 2011)

Tropical Storm "MINA" intensifies with maximum winds of 85 kilometers per hour but it is almost stationary since this morning in its location at 400 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

It is being expected to elevate in a typhoon category on Friday with maximum sustained winds of 118 kph.

Instead of the earlier reported Saturday, "MINA" is now expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday, August 29.

"MINA" remains stationary in its position because of Tropical Depression 97W which is outside the PAR. The two are creating a Fujiwhara effect, where two tropical storms/hurricanes are rotating around a common center.

Tropical Depression 97W isn't expected to enter the PAR but it is being closely monitored. It will be called Nonoy if ever it gets inside the PAR.

Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are still going to experience rainshowers caused by the southwest monsoon.

Tropical Depression "Mina" Update [August 23, 2011]

No storm warning signal has been hoisted due to Tropical Depression "MINA", but rains are expected over Metro Manila, Southern Luzon and Visayas due to enhanced Southwest Monsoon.

In an interview with GMA-7, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier said that "MINA" will possibly become stronger but based on the direction its taking, it won't make a landfall in the Philippines.

Rains are expected until Saturday because "MINA" is enhancing the Southwest Monsoon affecting the Southern Luzon and Visayas. Metro Manila rains, on the other hand, is being caused by the Intertropical Convergence Zone. After Saturday, good weather is expected for the rest of the long weekend. August 29, Monday, and August 30, Tuesday, are national holidays being National Heroes' Day and the end of Ramadan respectively.

In a weather bulletin issued at 4:00 AM today, August 23, PAGASA said that:

"...Tropical Depression "MINA" was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 320 km E ast Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes (15.4°N; 126.9°E) with maximum winds of 45 kph near the center. It is forecast to move North Northwest at 07 kph.

"Forecast: Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Bicol Region. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to Northwest will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the Southwest over most parts of the county. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough."

Tropical Depression "Mina" Update [August 22, 2011]

The latest PAGASA bulletin says that a Tropical Depression was spotted 400 kilometers East Southeast of Virac, Catanduanes. Named Tropical Depression Mina, it has maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center. It is forecast to move northwest at 09 kph.

While it is still weak, it will bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides over Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Mindanao and Central Luzon, on the other hand, will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over northern and central Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over the rest of the country.

Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

Typhoon Kabayan Update (August 4, 2011)

Typhoon Kabayan is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Friday morning. As early as Thursday, Metro Manila weather has already improved with clear sky and a rise in temperature.

As of 4 AM Thursday, Kabayan was estimated 860 km East Northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 200 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 13 kph.

Kabayan is expected to be 735 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes by Thursday evening, and by Friday evening, it is expected to be 605 km North Northeast of Basco, Batanes. On Saturday morning, it is expected to be 590 km North of Basco (425 km West of Okinawa, Japan).

PAGASA, though, warns seafarers against strong to gale-force winds. Smaller seacrafts are advised not to sail. Bigger ships are likewise being warned against big waves.

Afternoon Classes in NCR Suspended on Wednesday, August 3, 2011

While classes weren't suspended this morning, Department of Education (DepEd) announced that school principals and Local Government Units (LGUs) may suspend classes if the situation warrants it. Parents can also decide whether to send their children to school or not.

Only classes in schools still submerged in water are suspended. In a tweet this morning, @DepEd_PH said: "REGION 3: Regular classes today except for the following still flooded schools in Pampanga: Macabebe West Dist - San Esteban ES, Consuelo ES, Sta.Maria ES, San Rafael ES, Sto Nino ES, Dalayap, Dalan, Baliti ES, Castuli, Sta Lutgarda, SanJuan, Lolu Sapang Malalam, Sitio Mindanao. Macabebe East district - Caduag Tete ES, San Isidro ES, SanGabriel, San Roque, Sta.Rita Telacsan, Masantol San Isidro ES and Sapang Kawayan ES."

Meanwhile, local governments have been announcing the cancellation of classes in their respective areas. San Carlos City was the first to suspend Kinder to High School classes about two hours ago due to continuous rainfall. It was followed by Muntinlupa City and Taal, Batangas.

About 4 minutes ago, @DepEd_PH tweeted the cancellation of classes in all levels (pre-school to high school) in the National Capital Region (NCR). Please take note, though, that DepEd only covers pre-school to high school.

@DepEd_PH tweeted: "Afternoon classes in NCR is suspended. Latest report from PAGASA predicts moderate to heavy rainfalls throughout the day."

Moreover, DepEd Asec. Umali a while ago announced that "afternoon classes up to HS level both public and private schools in NCR suspended today, August 3, effective 12 noon." (GMA News)

Typhoon Kabayan Update (August 2, 2011)

From 8 AM to 2 PM Tuesday, August 2, Metro Manila got 48 millimeter of rainfall per hour, a volume that is considered heavy, causing floods in some parts of Manila.

The rains was not really directly caused by Typhoon Kabayan. It is the effect of the typhoon and a Low Pressure Area (LPA) enhancing the Southwest Monsoon, causing rains in the Western part of Luzon including Metro Manila.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Connie Rose Dadivas said that we should expect light rains, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

According to PAGASA's latest bulletin, Typhoon Kabayan was last seen 1,080 kilometers East Northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 200 kph. It is moving West Northwest at 15 kph.

Meanwhile, the Low Pressure Area which was previously named Typhoon Lando is still in the Philippine Area of Responsibility. It was last seen 105 km Northwest of Sinait,Ilocos Sur.

Tropical Depression Lando Update (August 1)

As of 5:00 AM, August 1, Typhoon Kabayan is seen at 1,115 km East Northeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan. And while it is moving North Northwest at 13 kph, Tropical Depression Lando is estimated at 280 km West of Sinait, Ilocos Sur (17.2°N; 117.7°E) with maximum winds of 45 kph near the center. It is forecast to move North Northwest slowly.

Forecast: The Western sections of Luzon and Visayas will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of Luzon and Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest to West will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the Southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

PAGASA Update on Typhoon Kabayan [July 30]

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Admistration (PAGASA) has released the latest update regarding typhoon "KABAYAN."

At 4:00 p.m. today, "KABAYAN" intensified into a typhoon and was located based on satellite and surface data at 1,030 km East of Casiguran, Aurora (16.3°N 132.9°E) with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It is forecast to move North at 11 kph.

Kabayan will not make a landfall but will make most parts of the country under rainy condition.

Forecast: The Western section of Luzon and Visayas will experience monsoon rains while the rest of the country will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the southwest to west over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Typhoon Kabayan Enters the Philippines

As of 4 PM today, July 28, Tropical Depression (TD) Kabayan was seen 1,000 kilometers East, Southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar (12.3°N, 134.7°E).

It has a maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 80 kilometers per hour.

TD Kabayan is moving at 15 kilometers per hour towards the Northwest direction.

Tropical Depression Kabayan is expected to leave on Sunday without a landfall.

Typhoon Ineng Not Going To Stay Long in PAR

The typhoon with an internatinal name of "MA-ON" has already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), reports PAGASA at 11:30 AM today, July 17, 2011.

The typhoon was given the local name of INENG.

It's not going to stay in the PAR long, though, and it will not affect the sunny weather in most parts of the country.