Tag Archives: Virac

Dangerous Typhoon Goni Hits Catanduanes

Extremely dangerous Typhoon Goni hit Catanduanes Island on Saturday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Goni was located at latitude 13.7°N and longitude 124.4°E which put it about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Virac, Philippines. Goni was moving toward the west-southwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 195 m.p.h. (315 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 235 m.p.h. (380 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 884 mb.

The eye of Typhoon Goni moved over the southern part of Catanduanes Island on Saturday. Despite the development of concentric eyewalls and the occurrence of an eyewall replacement cycle, Goni actually strengthened on Saturday. The original inner eyewall weakened and the outer eyewall contracted around the center of Typhoon Goni. Goni exhibited an eye with a diameter of 14 miles (22 km) when it made landfall on Catanduanes Island.

The circulation around Typhoon Goni increased in size during the eyewall replacement cycle. Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Goni. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 130 miles (210 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Goni was 48.0. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 64.0. Typhoon Goni was capable of causing catastrophic damage on a regional scale.

Typhoon Goni will also generate a storm surge of up to 20 feet (6 meters) along the coasts of Catanduanes Island and southeastern Luzon. Typhoon Goni will move west across the Philippines. Goni will weaken as the core passes over land. The center of Goni will make landfall in southeastern Luzon near Tabaco. The southern eyewall of Goni will produce strong winds in Legaspi. The northern eyewall will bring strong winds to Naga. Typhoon Goni could be near Manila in 18 hours and it could still be the equivalent of a major hurricane at that time. Goni will also drop locally heavy rain over southern Luzon and flash floods are likely.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Atsani was organizing slowly east of the Philippines. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Atsani was located at latitude 15.2°N and longitude 135.8°E which put it about 900 miles (1450 km) east of Luzon. Atsani was moving toward the west-northwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb. Tropical Storm Atsani was forecast to move toward the west and to strengthen.

Typhoon Kammuri Strengthens As It Nears Southeast Luzon

Typhoon Kammuri strengthened as it neared southeast Luzon on Sunday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Typhoon Kammuri was located at latitude 13.0°N and longitude 126.0°E which put it about 385 miles (625 km) east- southeast of Manila, Philippines and about 160 miles (260 km) east of Legaspi.  Kammuri was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 959 mb.

Typhoon Kammuri strengthened on Sunday.  An ellipitical eye with a mean radius of 30 miles (50 km) cleared out at the center of circulation.  A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Kammuri.  Storms near the core were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of mass allowed the surface pressure to decrease.

The wind field around Typhoon Kammuri became more symmetrical on Sunday.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 180 miles (290 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) was 17.8.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 19.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 37.1.  Typhoon Kammuri was capable of causing serious damage.

Typhoon Kammuri will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours.  Kammuri will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Kammuri could strengthen into the equivalent of a major hurricane before it reaches southeastern Luzon.  Kammuri will start to weaken after the center moves over land.

Typhoon Kammuri will move south of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Kammuri toward the west during the next several days.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Kammuri will pass between Samar and Catanduanes Island before making landfall near Sorsogon on southeast Luzon.  The center of Kammuri will pass near Legaspi, Tabaco and Ligao.

Typhoon Kammuri will be capable of causing major damage in the Philippines.  Kammuri will bring strong winds to southeast Luzon.  Typhoon Kammuri could also produce winds to near typhoon force in Virac on Catanduanes Island.  Kammuri could produce a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) in locations where the wind blows water toward the coast.  Typhoon Kammuri will drop locally heavy rain over southern Luzon.  Flash floods could occur, especially in areas of steeper slopes.