Storm ‘Helen’ brings heavy rainfall to Northern Luzon
Filed under weather by Pangasinan Today on 16-07-2008
Cagayan, Isabela and Calayan Group of Islands will experience heavy rainfall and gusty winds with rough seas as tropical storm “Helen” continues to move slowly to the west going to Extreme Northern Luzon, the weather bureau said Tuesday.
According to its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said that Helen was was estimated based from satellite and surface data at 250 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
PAGASA said that the rest of Luzon will be cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, while widespread rains will be observed over the western section. Visayas and Mindanao regions will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, which may occur during the afternoon or evening.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the rest of Luzon and Visayas with moderate to rough seas. Light to moderate winds blowing from the southeast and southwest will prevail over Mindanao and its coastal waters will be slight to moderate except during thunderstorms.
The storm is expected to strengthen the southwest monsoon wind.
PAGASA warned residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. Residents along the coastal areas under Public Storm Signal Number 2 were also alerted against big waves generated by the storm.
Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while bigger seacrafts are alerted against moderate to high waves.
Storm signal number 2 remained hoisted over Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands and Isabela, while those under signal number 1 were Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora.
On Wednesday morning, Helen is expected to move to the northeast of Aparri. It will be moving to the west of Basco, Batanes on Thursday. It is expected to be northwest of Basco by Friday.
