Signal Number 3 Up In Cagayan, Isabela
MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – State weather bureau PAGASA has alerted residents living in northern Luzon, as Typhoon “Quiel” (international name Nalgae) continues its westward movement at a speed of 26 kilometers per hour (kph).
PAGASA said Quiel picked up speed and is expected to make landfall in Cagayan and Isabela by Saturday morning, instead of Saturday afternoon as earlier predicted.
Quiel is expected to intensify further before it makes landfall and is forecasted to dump rains of 15 to 25 millimeters per hour.
Storm signal no. 3 has been raised in Cagayan and Isabela.
Storm signal number 2, meanwhile, was hoisted over the Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Quirino, and Northern Aurora.
Storm signal number 1 was raised in Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, and the rest of Aurora.
PAGASA said Quiel will not yet enhance the southwest monsoon until it crosses northern Luzon.
Metro Manila will not be directly hit by the typhoon but rains brought by the southwest monsoon are expected.
The weather disturbance will leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday afternoon.
Alert Up In Northern Luzon
PAGASA officer-in-charge and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul warned residents of northern Luzon that there is a possibility that the typhoon may hit the region as early as Saturday dawn.
“Lumalabas sa lahat ng numerical forecasts na ang bagyong si Quiel ay tatama bukas ng umaga. Ang ibig sabihin ng bukas ng umaga ay 8 a.m., subalit may posibilidad na tatama siya ng madaling araw ay nandoon. Kaya ‘yung ating mga kababayan sa northern Luzon ay ipinapaalam natin na posibleng tumama ang bagyo ng madaling araw sa northern Luzon,” said Yumul.
PAGASA has also recommended total evacuation in areas still submerged in floods caused by Typhoon “Pedring”.
“People will die if they will not heed the local authorities,” said Yumul.
Yumul said although the typhoon is only expected to hit the Cagayan-Isabela area, the whole of northern Luzon will be affected because of the typhoon’s cloud band.
Dam Status
Yumul noted that the dams in Magat in Isabela, Pantanbangan in Nueva Ecija, San Roque, Binga and Ambuklao in Pangasinan will start to receive rain again Friday night until Saturday afternoon.
Angat and Ipo dams in Bulacan will receive rains brought by the southwest monsoon by Saturday evening.
Water released from the Angat and Ipo dams goes to Angat River and flows toward the towns of Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Pulilan and Plaridel.
“Whatever water Angat and Ipo dams will be receiving today up to tomorrow will be coming from the waters that are run off from mountains that have received rain from Typhoon ‘Pedring’,” added Yumul.
He stressed that PAGASA only gives recommendations to dam operators regarding releasing water from dams.
PAGASA said the release of water of these dams did not cause the massive flooding in Bulacan.
PAGASA explained that water from Nueva Ecija, Sierra Madre and Pampanga river caused the flooding in Calumpit, Bulacan, which Calumpit Mayor James de Jesus described as the worst in 40 years.