TS ‘Ramon’ intensifies; signal No. 1 raised
Tropical cyclone “Ramon” (international name “Kalmaegi”) has further intensified into a storm before its expected landfall in Isabela province by Saturday.
The Philippine Atmo
spheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of Ramon at 385 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar, or 450 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
PAGASA has hoisted tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 1 over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar, as these areas could experience 30 to 60 kph of winds in 36 hours.
Ramon, upgraded from tropical depression to tropical storm, packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Should it maintain its current track at 20 kph west-northwest, Ramon will make landfall in Isabela by Saturday, PAGASA weather specialist Chris Perez said.
He pointed out that the center or eye of Ramon is still too far from the country’ landmass as of Wednesday, but its outer rainbands is already bringing rains over the eastern portions of Luzon and Visayas.
As early as Wednesday, light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may be experienced over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, and
Sorsogon, while light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains may affect Camarines Norte, Masbate, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar.
On Wednesday, Dr. Cedric Daep, chief of Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) told the Manila Bulletin that they have already ordered a province-wide suspension of classes in all levels, in both public and private to ensure the safety of learners for possible flooding.
Camarines Sur Governor Migz Villafuerte also issued advisory on Wednesday morning, suspending classes in all levels for both public and private in the province.
Steph Agnas of Philippine Port Authority (PPA) based in Matnog port in Sorsogon, told the Manila Bulletin that sea travel from Matnog to Samar provinces was already suspended as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
He said there are 34 RoRo cargoes, 5 vessels, and 60 passengers stranded at the Matnog port.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said that aside from raising tropical cyclone wind signal, it also issued a gale warning as sea travel is also risky, especially for small sea crafts, over the seaboards of areas under Signal
No. 1, coasts of Northern Luzon, and the eastern coastlines of Central and Southern Luzon. This is due to rough sea conditions triggered by the storm and the amihan.
By Thursday, light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may be experienced over the eastern portion of Cagayan, Isabela, and Northern Aurora; light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains may persist over Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorgsogon, Masbate, Apayao, Quezon, Northern Samar, and the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora.
More areas may be placed under tropical cyclone wind signals as the storm moves closer to the country, Perez added.
He warned residents in Northern and Central Luzon, especially those in the northern region, of possible flash floods or landslide due to saturated soil from recent rains.
Aside from tropical storm Ramon, he noted that the northeast monsoon or “amihan” could also bring rains over some parts of Northern and Central Luzon in the next two to three days.
PAGASA said that by Thursday morning, Ramon will be 180 km eastnortheast of Virac, Catanduanes, and by Friday morning, at 250 km east of Baler, Aurora.
It will be 65 km east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora by Saturday morning, and in the vicinity of Tabuk, Kalinga by Sunday morning. Ramon will likely weaken into a tropical depression during this time, Perez said.
He added that Ramon may have already crossed the landmass of Northern Luzon as a tropical depression by Monday and will be at 75 km west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
Meanwhile, police forces in Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions were instructed to initiate public safety measures in preparation for the onslaught of tropical depression ‘Ramon’.
Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officerin-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said all his men were tasked to coordinate with local disaster management officials to determine the scope of assistance that the police could provide in terms of manpower and resources.
“We assure the public that the PNP is always prepared to respond to any emergency, disaster or calamity to ensure safety and security of our people,” said Gamboa.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the PNP’s maritime forces were also instructed to assist in possible evacuation of residents in coastal areas, as well in information dissemination in adverse impact of
the weather disturbance. Angat Dam
PAGASA Administrator Vicente Malano said the track of tropical storm Ramon is too far from the Angat watershed. While it may receive some rains from the storm, it will not be enough to fill up the dam to its 210meter desired level, he added.
According to PAGASA hydrologist Danilo Flores, Angat Dam still needs 635 millimeters of rain to reach its yearend level of 210 meters.
PAGASA is still hoping that the next cyclone that will visit the country before the end of the year would pass directly over the Angat watershed.
Malano said cyclones this time of the year “tend to make landfall as they are being pushed towards the country by the northeast monsoon.”
Ramon is already the 18th cyclone to enter the country this year. PAGASA Weather Division chief Esperanza Cayanan said the country averages 19 to 20 cyclones per year.
“It is likely that another cyclone may enter the country this month due to the presence of low pressure systems, and another one in December. Hopefully, one of these cyclones will not bring damage but will bring sufficient rains over the Angat Dam,” Cayanan said. (With reports from Niño N. Luces and Aaron B. Recuenco)