Tag Archives: Catarman

Tropical Storm Bualoi Brings Wind and Rain to Central Philippines

Tropical Storm Bualoi brought wind and rain to the central Philippines on Thursday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Bualoi was located at latitude 12.4°N and longitude 124.6°E which put the center about 5 miles (10 km) west of Catarman, Philippines.  Bualoi was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.

Tropical Storm Bualoi brought wind and rain to the central Philippines on Thursday.  The strongest winds and heaviest rain were occurring in Samar.  Bualoi was also bringing wind and rain to southeastern Luzon and Masbate.

Tropical Storm Bualoi strengthened as it approached the central Philippines.  More thunderstorms formed near the center of Bualoi’s circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Bualoi.  Storms near the center of Bualoi generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Bualoi became more symmetrical on Thursday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Bualoi’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Bualoi will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Bualoi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Bualoi’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification.  Even though Tropical Storm Bualoi will move through a somewhat favorable environment, the center of Bualoi will be over land at times as it moves across the central Philippines.  The times when the center of Tropical Storm Bualoi is over land will also inhibit intensification.

Tropical Storm Bualoi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Bualoi toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Bualoi will move across the Sibuyan Sea.  Bualoi will move over the South China Sea during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Bualoi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the central Philippines.  The strongest winds and heaviest rain will occur in southern Luzon, Masbate, Sibuyan Island, Tablas Island, Burias Island, Marinduque, and Mindoro.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Bualoi could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along the coasts where the wind blows the water toward the shore.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Neoguri continued to meander far to the east of Japan.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Neoguri was located at latitude 32.0°N and longitude 154.1°E which put the center about 855 miles (1380 km) east of Tokyo, Japan.  Neoguri was moving toward the west-southwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Typhoon Vongfong Makes Landfall on Samar

Typhoon Vongfong made landfall on Samar on Thursday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Vongfong was located at latitude 12.5°N and longitude 124.5°E which put it about 10 miles (15 km) west of Catarman, Philippines.  Vongfong was moving toward the west-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Typhoon Vongfong made landfall on the coast of Samar north of Dolores on Thursday.  Vongfong was the equivalent of a major hurricane at the time of landfall.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  After Typhoon Vongfong made landfall, it moved west-northwest along the northern coast of Samar.  The center of Vongfong passed near Laoang and Catarman.  There have been reports of wind damage in northern Samar.  Typhoon Vongfong also dropped heavy rain in some locations and flash floods may have occurred.

Typhoon Vongfong began to weaken after the center moved over Samar.  The eye was no longer evident on conventional satellite images.  The winds speeds were decreasing slowly.  Winds to typhoon extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

Typhoon Vongfong will move around the western end of a high pressure system centered southeast of Japan.  The high will steer Vongfong toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Vongfong will move across eastern Luzon.  The center of Vongfong will move near Bulan, Ligao, Naga, Daet, and Labo.  Typhoon Vongfong will also bring wind and rain to Sorsogon, Legaspi and Tabaco.  Heavy rain could flash floods in areas of steep terrain.

Typhoon Vongfong Nears Landfall in Samar

Typhoon Vongfong neared landfall in Samar on Wednesday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Vongfong was located near latitude 12.2°N and longitude 125.8°E which put it about 30 miles (50 km) east of Dolores, Philippines.  Vongfong was moving toward the west at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and  there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 959 mb.

Typhoon Vongfong was a small but strong tropical cyclone.  There was a small circular eye at the center of circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms.  The strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.

Winds to typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Typhoon Vongfong.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 75 miles (120 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Vongfong was 19.2.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 5.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 24.8.  Typhoon Vongfong was capable of causing localized serious damage.

Typhoon Vongfong will move around the western end of a high pressure system centered southeast of Japan.  The high will steer Vongfong toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Vongfong will make landfall on the coast of northern Samar north of Dolores during the next 6 to 12 hours.  The center of Vongfong could be near Laoang in about 12 hours.  Typhoon Vongfong could move over southeastern Luzon later on Thursday.  The center of Vongfong could be near Legaspi in 18 hours.

The small inner core of Typhoon Vongfong will be capable of causing localized serious wind damage in northern Samar and southeastern Luzon.  Vongfong could bring strong winds to Dolores, Laoang, Catarman, Bulan, Sorsogon and Legaspi.  Typhoon Vongfong will drop locally heavy rain over northern Samar, southeastern Luzon and Catanduanes Island.  Flash floods could occur in some locations.  Vongfong could cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) in parts of northern Samar and southeastern Luzon.