Egay may become super typhoon by Tuesday – PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines — Cyclone Egay has further strengthened and developed into a severe tropical storm yesterday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which placed several areas in Luzon and Visayas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said that Egay (international name Doksuri) may develop further into a typhoon within 24 hours and become a super typhoon by tomorrow.

“The rapid intensification of Severe Tropical Storm Egay is expected to happen within 72 hours,” Aurelio said.

The state weather bureau said that as of 5 p.m. of July 23, areas in Luzon covered by Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 are Catanduanes, eastern portion of Camarines Sur, including Garchitorena, Caramoan and Presentacion; northern portion of Aurora, including Casiguran and Dilasag; eastern portion of Isabela, including Dinapigue, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Tumauini, San Pablo and Cabagan; and eastern portion of Cagayan, including Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-lo, Gattaran, Baggao and Peñablanca.

In the Visayas, areas affected by Signal No. 1 are the northern portion of Eastern Samar, including San Policarpo, Oras, Arteche and Jipapad, and the eastern portion of Northern Samar, including Lapinig, Gamay, Mapanas, Palapag, Laoang, Catubig and Pambujan.

At 4 p.m., on July 23 the center of Egay was located 560 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/hour.

“We expect to raise tropical cyclone wind signals in areas in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas. Based on our forecast, the highest wind signal can reach 3 or number 4 in extreme Northern Luzon but it can reach wind signal number 5 if the track of the typhoon changes to westward. We are monitoring this if it changes from the northwestward to westward direction,” Aurelio said.

Aurelio said that heavy to intense 100 to 200 millimeters of accumulated rains are expected in Catanduanes today.

He said Severe Tropical Storm Egay may make landfall in extreme Northern Luzon by Wednesday and in Taiwan on Thursday morning.

“We expect Egay to weaken by Wednesday when it is near the Batanes area as because of the interaction to land and by Thursday and Friday, we expect the typhoon to weaken further as it is heading to Taiwan and China,” he added.

On the other hand, Aurelio said that the southwest monsoon or habagat will bring rains to the northern portion of Palawan, including Calamian, Polillo and Cuyo islands, Antique and Negros Occidental.

The southwest monsoon will also bring strong winds in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Visayas, northern Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

“The rains will cause possible flooding and landslides especially in low-lying areas and near rivers,” Aurelio said.

He added that gale warning will also be raised where waves can reach as high as 4.5 meters in affected areas.

Meanwhile Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesman Eric Apolonio said that area manager Cynthia Tumanut of the Bicol region said that they are prepared and have done innovative measures to protect airport facilities from damage by natural calamities such as typhoons as the region is often visited by typhoons.

Tumanut and her group came up with more convenient, dependable, ready to use and sturdy protection with an accordion type storm shutter, which they encourage other concerned airports to adopt. The CAAP manages 81 airports across 12 area centers nationwide.