As we expect Tropical Depression (TD) Nona to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this weekend, TD Onyok crossed the PAR line yesterday afternoon. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier, it is forecast to make its landfall tomorrow afternoon or in the evening in the Caraga region. And as of 4:00 AM today, Onyok was last located at 700 kms. east-northeast of Mati City, Davao Oriental, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph. It moves westward at 15 kph.
Meanwhile, Nona remains stationary at its location of 60 kms. east of Iba, Zambales. Javier adds that it may continuously weaken into a Low Pressure Area (LPA) in the next 24 hours. Public Storm Warning Signal number 1 is still raised over Pangasinan and Zambales.
With the two (2) tropical cyclones inside our boundary, rains with gusty winds prevail in the areas with Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1. Meanwhile, moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected over Cagayn Valley, Cordillera, and the rest of Central Luzon and Ilocos Region, possibly triggering flash floods and landslides. Light to moderate rains are at expected over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Caraga and Davao Region. Fair weather conditions will be experienced in the rest of the archipelago.
Gale warning was raised in the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the western and eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. Because of the rough to very rough sea conditions, fisher folk and those with small seacraft are advised to avoid venturing into the said seaboards.
PAGASA is closely monitoring the new Tropical Depression outside the Philippine boundary, last located at 1,425 kms. east-southeast of Mindanao. According to Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier, the weather disturbance is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this afternoon. Upon entering, it will be given the local name Onyok, the 15th cyclone for 2015.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Nona is now over the West Philippine Sea, and is expected to exit PAR by Friday. However, moderate to heavy rains are still possible within the 250-kilometer radius of the typhoon.
Today, stormy weather will be experienced in the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island, Northern Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, Batangas and Cavite, which will experience rough to very rough seas.
Rains with gusty winds are expected over Metro Manila, Pampanga, Southern Zambales, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, the Calamian Group of Islands, and the rest of Oriental Mindoro.
Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in Northern Luzon, while light to moderate rains will be experienced in the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.
Public Storm Warning Signals
Public Storm Warning Signals are still in effect in some areas.
Storm surges of up to 2 meters are possible along the coastal areas under Signals number 2 and 3.
Simbang Gabi starts today
The long-cherished Filipino Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi jumpstarts today. But take note, church-goers in Metro Manila: moderate to heavy rains are still possible due to Typhoon Nona.
Be weather-ready; get the latest weather information straight from PAGASA. Know more about the Panahon TV mobile app here. Panahon TV
Typhoon Nona has weakened while moving towards Banton, Romblon. With maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gustiness of 170 kph, Nona moves west at 15 kph. According to PAGASA Weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio, Nona is expected to leave the Philippine landmass today, and the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday. Meanwhile, another low pressure area (LPA) was located east outside PAR. Watch the full interview here: Panahon TV interview with PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio
Today, stormy weather will be experienced in Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Southern Quezon, Batangas and the islands of Calamian, Burias and Lubang with rough to very rough sea conditions.
Rains with gusty winds are expected over Metro Manila, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Masbate including Ticao island, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and the rest of Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Bataan and Bulacan.
Cloudy skies with light rains are expected in Batanes, including Calayan and the Babuyan Group of Islands, while light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in the rest of the country.
Public Storm Warning Signals
Flash floods and landslides are expected in the areas under signals number 2 and 3. Storm surges may reach a maximum of 3 meters. Open sea wave height in areas under signal #1 may reach 1.25 to 4.0 meters.
#walangpasok | #NonaPH
Classes in these areas are suspended today, December 15, 2015 due to typhoon Nona.
Despite the busy days of preparing for the Christmas celebration, PAGASA alerts the public to monitor the weather as well. At 7:00AM today, the eye of typhoon “Nona” was last spotted at 135 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. Packing winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 185 kilometers per hour, Nona is expected to move west at 17 kilometers per hour.
If Nona maintains speed and direction, it will possibly be at its closest distance to Northern Samar by early afternoon today. The typhoon will then make landfall over Sorsogon early tonight. After hitting the landmass, it will cross Albay province and may head towards Burias Island.
As Nona approaches the land, more areas were put under Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS).
Areas under Signal Numbers 3 and 2 are alerted against possible flash floods, landslides and storm surges of up to 4 meters.
Residents of Samar provinces, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Leyte, Masbate, Romblon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon and the islands of Ticao, Biliran and Burias must prepare for stormy weather with rough to very rough sea condition. Rains with gusty winds are expected over Metro Manila, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan, Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, the rest of Quezon, Dinagat and the islands of Bantayan, Camotes, Lubang, Polillo and Siargao.
Meanwhile, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and gusty winds may be experienced over the rest of Visayas and Mindanao, while Cagayan Valley may have light rains due to the “Amihan”. The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.
Gale Warning is also up over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are not allowed to venture into the sea as rough to very rough sea conditions with wave height reaching 4.5 meters may be observed.
Meanwhile, another weather disturbance was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). According to PAGASA, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) is still too far to affect the country.
Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate including Burias, Ticao Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Dinagat province. In these areas, winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour are expected within 36 hours. Winds as strong as these may cause light damage to low-risk structures, may break twigs of small trees and damage rice crops as well.
At 10 AM today, based on the latest data from PAGASA, “Nona” was estimated at 565 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. Now carrying winds of 110 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 140 kilometers per hour, it continues to move west-northwest at 19 kilometers per hour.
According to PAGASA, Nona is expected to make landfall over the Bicol-Samar area tomorrow afternoon or evening if it maintains speed and direction. Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon, Marinduque and Romblon may also be placed under storm signals tonight.
Upon making landfall, Javier says Nona has the possibility of slightly weakening after interacting with the landmass, and due to the influence of the Northeast Monsoon. The Northeast Monsoon or “Amihan” is characterized by cold and dry air, which may not be favorable for the intensification of the storm.
As Nona approaches the land, residents of Samar provinces are alerted against rains with gusty winds. The provinces of Surigao, Dinagat Island and Bicol Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, due to the “Amihan”, cloudy skies with light rains will be experienced over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have isolated light rains, while the rest of the country can expect generally fair weather aside from isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
For sea travelers, gale warning is up over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon due to the winds associated with Nona. Wave height ranging from 3.4 to 4.5 meters will be observed along the coastal waters of Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, the eastern coast of Albay and eastern coast of Sorsogon.
BE SAFE: Before and During a Storm
How do we prepare for an approaching storm? Here are some reminders for your safety and survival.
A couple of days before Christmas, the Tropical Storm with international name “Melor” has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at around 4:00A M today. It was given a local name “Nona”, the 14th tropical cyclone that entered the boundary this year.
At 10:00 AM today, it was estimated at 1, 025 kilometers east of Maasin, Southern Leyte. Carrying winds of 65 kilometer per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kilometer per hour, it is expected to move west-northwest at 17 kilometers per hour.
Nona may make landfall over Bicol Region on Tuesday morning if it maintains its speed and direction. Tomorrow morning, sea conditions in Southern Luzon and Visayas will become rough to very rough, making it risky for fishing boats and other seacraft to venture into the coastal waters. PAGASA Weather Specialist Rene Paciente says Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) may be hoisted tomorrow afternoon in the Bicol and Samar areas.
PAGASA alerted the residents of Bicol and Eastern Visayas as occasional rains and gusty winds may be experienced over Northern Samar and Bicol Region starting Monday. As of now, Nona has no direct effect yet on any part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Northeast Monsoon continues to affect the Northern Luzon. Cloudy skies with light rains will be experienced in the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley. Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated light rains and/or thunderstorms.
NONOY to NONA
The initial list of Tropical Cyclone names shows that the 14th cyclone that will enter the PAR this year will be named “Nonoy”. However, upon entering the PAR, the weather bureau decided to change it to “Nona”.
According to PAGASA, they changed the name because it sounds like “Noynoy,” which is the current president’s nickname. PAGASA Information Unit Chief Venus Valdemoro added that they do not want it to be offensive or linked to any prominent person. They also do not want people to focus on the name, but to emphasize the preparedness and urgency instead.
