Typhoon ‘Ursula’ Maintains Strength, Moves Towards Southern Mindoro — DOST

By EDD K. USMAN

Twitter: @edd1819, Instagram: @bluestar0910, Facebook: Science, Digital & Current News

(SDN) — RESIDENTS of areas impacted by Typhoon “Ursula” (international name Phanfone) should remain vigilant and avoid taking risks.

At 2 p.m. on Christmas day today, the Department of Science and Technology issued its Severe Weather Bulletin #18 as government weathermen continued to track  and monitor the paths of Ursula.

DOST’s weather agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), issued the bulletin which it said is valid for broadcast until a new one issued at 5 p.m. the same day.

PAGASA headed by Administration Dr. Vicente B. Malano revealed that the latest typhoon to hit the Philippines, which receives an average of 20 typhoons annually, has maintained its strength while moving to the Mindoro provinces’ southern portion.

“The eyewall of Typhoon Ursula is bringing very destructive winds and intense rainfall over Caluya Islands,” the state weather agency said.

It added that the Mindoro provinces’ southern portion will be affected by the eyewall in the next hours.

“In case of the passage of the eye in some of the aforementioned areas, calm conditions will be experienced. However, as soon as as the eye moves out of the area, violent conditions associated with the eyewall will resume,” PAGASA warned.

Meanwhile, PAGASA has lifted the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals over Sorsogon and northern Cebu.

PAGASA also has a heavy rainfall outlook.

Here’s the rest of the No. 8th bulletin:

 

• Until tonight: Occasional to frequent heavy with intermittent intense rains over Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Romblon, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, and Mindoro Provinces. Light to moderate rains with isolated heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms over Bicol Region, rest of Western Visayas, CALABARZON, Metro Manila, Marinduque, Aurora and the northern portion of mainland Palawan.
• Residents in these areas are advised to take appropriate measures to reduce the potential impact of flooding and rain-induced landslides, especially in areas identified to be highly to very highly susceptible to these hazards.
• Onset of Tropical Cyclone Winds
• Moderate to strong winds to begin affecting Metro Manila and Bataan between this afternoon.
• Destructive typhoon-force winds to begin affecting Mindoro Provinces this afternoon; Calamian islands between this afternoon and evening.
• Other Hazards and Warning Information
• Rough sea conditions will prevail over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, as well the seaboards of Aurora, and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao. Sea travel remains risky over these areas.
• Storm surge of 1.0 to 2.0 meters may affect several coastal areas in southern Masbate, Aklan, Capiz, northern Antique, northeastern Iloilo, Romblon, Marinduque, and Mindoro Provinces, Calamian Islands and Cuyo Islands in the next 24 hours.
• Landfalls: Salcedo, Eastern Samar (4:45 PM yesterday); Tacloban City, Leyte (7:30 PM yesterday); Cabucgayan, Biliran (9:15 PM yesterday); Gigantes Islands, Carles, Iloilo (2:30 AM today), Ibajay, Aklan (8:40 AM today)

The state weather agency said the location of the typhoon’s eye or center at 1 p.m. was tracked 70 km southeast of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, using all available data including the Busuanga Doppler Radar.

It’s moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (kph). It has a maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

Forecast positions: