Super typhoon will hit Cebu, Philippines

Cebu, Philippines -  A super typhoon packing winds in excess of 150 kph, making it stronger than Typhoon Sendong, could threaten Cebu as it sets to enter the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow morning.

At 6 p.m. Sunday today, Typhoon Pablo was located at 900 kilometers southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Pablo is the first tropical cyclone in December and the 16th weather disturbance to enter the country in 2012.

Kelly Torregoza of PAGASA Mactan said they are closely monitoring the movement  of  the  storm, which would be named “Pablo” when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Torregoza said the typhoon is expected to be strong since its center was located near latitude 4.3 degrees north, which is quite low compared to most typhoons.

Typhoon “Sendong” was near latitude 7 degrees north.

“Pablo” will enter the PAR early Monday morning but would not affect any region immediately since it is still far away, said Torregoza.

The typhoon will go through Eastern Mindanao, according to PAGASA.

The weather bureau’s last update showed that “Pablo” was moving west at 20 kph and packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 200 kph.

“Pablo” is expected to hit Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region but will bring moderate to heavy rains to the whole Visayas and Mindanao.

The storm has a size of 400 to 500 km in diameter.

Malacañan reminded local government units to closely monitor the updates from PAGASA and should also undertake precautions following the blue alert status raised by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

NDRRMC Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Benito Ramos said regional, provincial, city and municipal disaster responders in Western, Central, Eastern Visayas, as well as those in Regions 10, 11, 12 and the Caraga in Mindanao have started pre-positioning rescue units and rescue equipment as well as food supplies and medicines in flood-prone and landslide-prone places.

“Our local disaster responders are also ready for possible enforcement of force evacuations of residents residing along danger zone areas,” Ramos said.

Evacuations centers have also been identified to include schools, gymnasiums, churches and even cockpit arenas, he said.

“Huwag munang magsabong, unahin na muna natin itong paghahanda sa parating na bagyo dahil malakas ito kung tatama sa atin,” Ramos said.

Other concerned agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd), the military, police, Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) and the Coast Guard are now on standby in preparation for the storm.

WEATHER FORECAST AND ANALYSIS AS OF DECEMBER 01, 2012 11:00P

SYNOPSIS

EXTENDED RIDGE OF HIGH OVER LUZON

PHILIPPINES RAINRATE FORECAST AS OF 11:00P

DECEMBER 01 PM: 2mm/hr Northern Mindanao.

Next 12hrs (SUN AM): 2mm/hr E Luzon

Next 24hrs (SUN PM): 13mm/hr Bataan area

Next 36hrs (MON AM): 5mm/hr Bicol and E Luzon, E and Central Visayas

Next 48hrs (MON PM): 8mm/hr N Luzon, Bicol and E Luzon

Next 60hrs (TUE AM): 35-50mm/hr Mindanao; 16mm/hr E Visayas

Next 72hrs (TUE PM): 35-50mm/hr N Mindanao, Central and eastern Visayas

Next 84hrs (WED AM): 25-35mm/hr Visayas and NW Mindanao; 9-15mm/hr Bicol and rest of Visayas

Next 96hrs (WED PM): 22mm/hr Palawan, and Mindoro; 5-9mm/hr Luzon including Mmla

Next 108hrs (THUR AM): 25-35mm/hr Palawan

Next 120hrs (THUR PM): 9mm/hr Palawan

METRO MANILA TEMPERATURE FORECAST (BASED ON MODEL FORECASTS AT 2M)

SUN: 20.9°C-31.3°C

MON: 21.1°C-31.4°C

TUE: 21.8°C-29.4°C

WED: 22.0°C-29.9°C

THUR: 20.5°C-31.4°C

7 DAYS FORECAST

Tropical Cyclone Bopha (PRE-PABLO) expected to approach and hit land on Philippines (Possible entry point: NE Mindanao to Leyte, Possible exit point: Northern Palawan to Batangas area) on Tuesday evening or wednesday morning and expected to be on the country for the next 48hrs after landfall.

TROPICAL CYCLONE/DISTURBANCE UPDATE AS OF DEC 01, 2012 11P

BOPHA/26W (PRE-PABLO)

POSITION: 5.62°N, 139.45°E

MAX WIND SPEED: 115kt/213kph

GUSTINESS: 140kt/259kph

DVORAK: 119.8kt/221.9kph

MEAN WINDSPEED (FROM SURFACE TO 850MB): 111.5kt/206.4kph

SEA LEVEL PRESSURE: 946.5mb

CENTRAL TEMPERATURE: -29.10°C

RAINRATE: 35-50mm/hr

SEVERE ALERT: PALAU IS (Possible landfall within the next 8-10hrs based on current speed and trajectory)

ALERT: NE Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Dinagat is.,

Reference:  PAG-ASA ...