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Showing posts with label PAGASA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PAGASA. Show all posts

Friday, October 22, 2010

Typhoon Katring might enter the Philippines this weekend

Barely a week after Typhoon “Juan” (International name Megi) left the country, a new tropical storm might enter the country on Saturday. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a storming over the Pacific Ocean has turn to a tropical depression and might enter the country this weekend.

Northern Luzon was hit by super typhoon a few days ago and must now prepare for the arrival of Katring since it is expected to take the path similar to Juan. Magat Dam in Isabela has started to relase water since it is only capable of holding 193 meters water level. Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam have started to open gates in preparation to the threat of water level increase that Typhoon Katring might bring.

PASASA said that the tropical depression was 2,400 kilometers east of the country as of Thursday. Juan is considered as one of the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines in years and is under the category-5 typhoon similar to hurricane Katrina that hit America in 2005. Juan was recorded to have a gustiness of 260 kilometers per hour.  Reming with a gustiness of 320 kph hit the country in 2006 and Sening with a gustiness of 275 kph hit the country in 1976.

Juan has claimed the lives of 19 people according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and management council (NDRRMC) as of 1 p.m. Thursday. A total of 1,015,895 people (211,149 families) were affected by the storm. 23,127 persons are still in 170 evacuation centers.

Friday, August 20, 2010

The United states may experience 36 hours of darkness on October 17

Rumors are now spreading online and through text messages that the sun will continuously rise for 36 hours on October 17, 2010 in some parts of the world while the United States may experience 36 hours of darkness. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) official said that this scenario might happen. This rare phenomenon happens every 2,400 years.

According to PAGASA, countries in southern hemisphere experience longer days while those countries located in the Northern hemisphere experience longer nights. During the vernal equinox in March and autumnal equinox in September, the planet experience equal lengths of day and night. After the vernal equinox, countries in the northern hemisphere would observe longer nights while those in the southern hemisphere will experience longer days.

He also added that starting September 24, the number of hours of night would gradual decrease as the country goes below the latitude. A whole day of darkness would be experience by countries located above the 66.5 degrees. Normally the North pole experience six months of darkness every year while the south pole experience six months of daytime. During the summer solstice which falls on June 21 or June 22, countries in northern hemisphere experience the longest day and shortest night of the year. During the Winter solstice countries in the northern hemisphere while have the shortest day and longest night that normally occurs on Dec 21 or 22 each year.

Even though a PAGASA official said that the 36 hours darkness might occur, they have not confirmed that it may happen on October 17.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

First typhoon of the year enters the Philippines

Typhoon Basyang (International name Conson) was forecasted to entered the country on July 13, 2010. As of 11 p.m. (Manila time) of the same day, typhoon Basyang’s center has hit Infanta, Quezon. Basyang is expected to reach central Luzon on Wednesday and leave the country by Thursday. Storm signal number was 1 was already raised in Catanduanes, Camarines sur, Marinduque, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Ifugao, Benguet, La union and the rest of Quezon province. Signal number 2 was declared in the province of Camarines Norte, Northern Quezon, Rizal, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Lubang Island, Laguna, Batangas, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Bulacan, and Metro Manila. Classes of students in pre-school to high schools level were suspended by the Department of Education in provinces under signal number 2.

Afternoon Classes in Metro Manila were suspended. The Philippine Coast guard has already advised ships en route to Manila to dock in the nearest port. International flights were also advised to divert due to poor visibility due to the heavy rains.

At least 20 typhoons enter the country every year. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has forecasted that the only 13 to 15 tropical storm would enter the Philippines this year. This should be goods news; however the weather bureau expects that tropical storms would stronger in intensity.

This officially marks the beginning of the typhoon season in the Philippines. Filipinos fear that the typhoon may cause landslide and flooding. Last year two powerful entered the country which has caused massive flooding and destruction to infrastructure. Typhoon Ondoy and Peping enter the country last September and October respectively. These two typhoons claimed the lives of more the 1000 people. The weather bureau said that Basyang was only tropical storm but it has intensified and was classified as typhoon a few hours ago.

It is unfortunate that I am writing this while I am in the office. I am on my Graveyard shift and how I wish I am  home in the comfort of my bed. The winds are so strong that I could hear it whistling. The rain is not as strong now but it was really pouring when I was on my way to the office. I hope that this typhoon would not be as strong as Ondoy. Last year I was not able to go to work due to the massive flooding. My wife on the hand was at her mall based workplace in SM north EDSA. The high amount of rainfall has caused the flooding of their basement making it inaccessible. She was also stranded for a couple of hours since the route that she has to take to get home was already flooded. Taxis, jeepney and bus service were also unavailable. Fortunately one of her officemates resides somewhere near our home and she was able to get a ride. 

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

High-grade rain gauge installed in Telecommunication cell sites

The Philippine Disaster Recovery foundation (PDRF) headed by PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan has agreed to install PAGASA’s high grade rain gauge inside the cell site of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) to monitor the amount of rainfall ad give reliable and timely warning. This is also to give better preparation against the massive flooding like the one experience during Typhoon Ondoy.

Philippines would the first in Asia to install rain gauges in cell sites. This is possible since PAGASA is getting support from the private sector and the other two big telecommunication companies. On March 22, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between PAGASA, Smart, Globe and Sun was signed to allow the co-location of rain gauges in the cell sites. The benefits of having the rain gauge installed inside the cell sites is continuous power source that it provides as well as real time data transfer to PAGASA using SMS (short message service).

The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has given a grant for the rain gauge. A rain gauge cost about Php500000. Chief of PAGASA’s Hydrometeorological Division, Dr. Susan Espinueva, said that about 15 to 20 rain gauge station would be installed within the year. The rain gauge would be strategically installed in areas were the expected volume of flood waters is high. A rain gauge has already been installed in Pasig-Marikina basin where massive flooding was experience last year when typhoon Ondoy struck the country. Last year, the amount of rainfall dumped by Ondoy in about six hours is equal to month’s worth of rainfall. These project is aim to be better prepare the country in case a storm of that magnitude happens to hit the Philippines again.

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