PAGASA: ‘AGHON’ MAKES 8 LANDFALLS, DUMPS MORE THAN A MONTH’S RAIN
MANILA — Tropical Storm “Aghon” has slightly intensified while meandering over Sariaya, Quezon, state weather bureau Pagasa said yesterday.
“Aghon” (International name: “Ewiniar”) now packs winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) with gusts of up to 125 kph. It is moving northwestward at 10 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was raised in central and northern Quezon, Laguna and the eastern portions of Rizal and Batangas.
Meanwhile, Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted over Metro Manila, southeastern Isabela, southern Quirino, southern Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, eastern and southern Nueva Ecija, southern Bataan, eastern Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, northern and central Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and the rest of Rizal, Batangas, and Quezon.
Eight landfalls
“Aghon” has made eight landfalls so far while moving northwestward across Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon since Friday, May 24.
Based on Pagasa’s latest forecast track, “Aghon” will be closest to Metro Manila from Sunday afternoon through early evening. Another landfall is possible over the Polillo Islands.
Amount of rainfall
Meanwhile, heavy rains from “Aghon” battered Visayas and Southern Luzon, causing flooding in some parts of Samar Island and other areas.
Over 24 hours, from 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, to 8:00 a.m. yesterday, Mulanay, Quezon registered 229.4 millimeters (mm) of rain. There is no climatological data for the town yet, as the Pagasa station there was only recently opened.
Tayabas City, Quezon, meanwhile, received 226.5 mm rainfall — almost one and a half month’s rain for the month of May in the city.
The average precipitation in the city during May is 159.7 mm.
Alabat town also logged more than a month’s rain of 152.2 mm; its May average is 128.2 mm.
Infanta, Quezon had 146.3 mm of rain, while Tanay, Rizal had 98.4 mm for the same 24hour period.
The previous day, more than three weeks’ worth of rain was also dumped in Catbalogan City and Catarman, Northern Samar at 137.7 mm and 132.0 mm, respectively.
Intense to torrential rains
Through yesterday evening, Pagasa forecasts torrential rains to persist in Quezon, while intense rains may batter Metro Manila, Aurora, eastern Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Camarines Norte.
Heavy rains may also be experienced in Nueva Ecija, eastern parts of Isabela and Pampanga, Mindoro provinces, Romblon, western Camarines Sur, Antique, Aklan, and the rest of Calabarzon and Bulacan.
As of 11:00 a.m. yesterday, a heavy rainfall warning is in effect in areas in Southern Luzon:
* Red warning for torrential rains over Quezon and Laguna
* Yellow warning for heavy rains over Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Batangas
Pagasa warned against serious flooding in lowlying areas and along river channels as well as landslides in mountainous areas.
Pagasa said the storm is about to recurve or may be recurving already as it traverses Calabarzon.
It may emerge over the coastal waters off northern Quezon or Aurora on Sunday evening.
It will then track northeastward over the Philippine Sea where it may intensify into a severe tropical storm and eventually reach typhoon intensity before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday morning, May 29.
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