Bagyong Amang came when the Pope arrived in the Philippines. Now it’s dissipating on the same day Pope Francis is leaving the country.
Amang, known as Mekkhala internationally, has weakened into a low pressure area this morning. Public Storm Warning Signals have been lifted.
Estimated at 85 km Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora at 10 am today, it is still expected to bring light to moderate rains over the regions Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos.
State Meteorologist Glaiza Escullar says that the said weather disturbance has weakened due to the following factors:
1) Vertical wind shear. With a stronger wind shear, the heat is dispersed over a large area, weakening the tropical cyclone.
2) Friction effect.
3) Sea condition. As it moves relatively northward, the sea surface temperature gets lower, unable to sustain the strength of the bagyo.
4) Northeast monsoon. Cold and dry air intrusion is not conducive for any weather disturbance as this needs warm temperature to develop.
Expected to dissipate within 24 hours, Amang has made landfall thrice as a tropical cyclone and has crossed another as a low pressure area. Here’s its latest landfall track:
Today, the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will continue to experience light to moderate rains due to the existing weather disturbance. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have cloudy skies with light rains caused by the prevailing northeast monsoon.
Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, can expect improved weather conditions apart from isolated thunderstorms.
In other related news, gale warning has been issued over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon. Wave height may reach up to 4.5 meters, making sea travel risky
in the following hours.
LAST DAY OF THE PAPAL VISIT
After a 5-day visit, the Pope will be leaving for Rome at 10 AM today. A departure ceremony will be held at the Presidential Pavilion of the Villamor Airbase.
Tropical storm Amang made its first landfall at 3:00 PM yesterday. At 7:00 AM today, it was estimated at 60 kilometers north northeast of Sorsogon City or 25 kilometers southwest of Virac, Catanduanes packing winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 100 kilometers per hour. At a speed of 15 kilometers per hour, it moves in a northwest direction.
Public Storm Warning Signals are still up overs some areas of Luzon and Visayas.
Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under the storm signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Occurrence of ocean waves that may reach 6.5 meters are still possible within the 350 kilometer-diameter of Amang.
Bicol Region and the provinces of Samar, Quezon and Aurora will experience stormy weather. Metro Manila, the rest of CALABARZON and the provinces of Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque at Romblon will have rains with gusty winds. Western Visayas and the province of Leyte will be cloudy with light to moderate rains.
The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a chance of thunderstorms while the rest of Luzon will be cloudy with light rains brought by the northeast monsoon or amihan.
Meanwhile, sea travel for fishing boats and other small seacraft is still risky on the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
Papal Visit Day 4 Weather Forecast
At 10:00 AM today, the center of tropical storm “Amang” was estimated at 560 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour. If Amang continues to move westward at 15 kilometers per hour, it is expected to make landfall over Northern Samar tomorrow evening.
As Amang moves closer to Visayas, some areas were put under Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1.
Amang is expected to bring estimated rainfall ranging from 7.5 to 20 millimeters per hour (heavy to intense) within its 300-kilometer diameter. Those who are residing in low-lying and mountainous areas under these storm signals are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Occurrence of ocean waves that may reach up to 6.5 meters are also possible.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio explained that the presence of two high pressure areas are influencing the movement of the tropical storm. However, there is still a chance for it to re-curve only if the high pressure area in the upper right will give way. As of now, Amang has a slim chance of intensifying into a typhoon. Continuous monitoring will be done in the following hours.
For today, occasional rains with gusty winds will be experienced over Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains are expected over Central Visayas and CARAGA. The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains and possible thunderstorms.
Meanwhile due to the northeast monsoon or amihan, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera will have cloudy skies with light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated light rains.
Due to the winds associated with the prevailing amihan and Amang, sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Weather outlook for Papal Visit Days 3 and 4
Today is the 2nd day of Pope Francis in the Philippines. Based on his itinerary, tomorrow, January 17, he will travel from Manila to Tacloban to meet with Yolanda survivors. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, Tacloban will experience occasional rains with gusty winds.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis is expected to return back to Manila on January 18 to meet the youth and conduct a holy mass in Quirino Grandstand. Aurelio said we are expecting cloudy skies with light to moderate rains by Sunday.