Typhoon Quiel in Batanes

September 30, 2011


Weather forecasters said Friday Tropical Storm Quiel (international codename: Nalgae) intensified into a typhoon, posing threat to northern Luzon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 a.m. Friday bulletin that "Quiel" was at 770 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan at 4 a.m. 

The typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is moving west at 22 kph.

Storm signal number one is hoisted over Cagayan, Isabela, and Babuyan group of islands.

Pagasa said the typhoon may make landfall in Cagayan Valley by late Saturday. 

With two high pressure areas ridging in at the Pacific, state weather forecasters said "Quiel" will be led to the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes this weekend.

A landfall is expected over these areas if the weather systems will not be dissolved soon, according to Graciano Yumul, supervising undersecretary of Pagasa.

A high pressure area, which brings good weather along its path, normally blocks the movement of a tropical cyclone in its intended direction.

"But we will continue to monitor for changes. So far, that is the consensus track," he told Sun.Star.

Typhoon Quiel is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring scattered to widespread rains over southern Luzon and western Visayas. 

The Pagasa also said another weather disturbance, Tropical Depression Ramon, is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility within two days after Quiel makes landfall and will hit northern Luzon.

Source: Sunstar Manila