Philippines: Storm Yagi dumps heavy rains, classes suspended
Flood, landslide alerts up on several areas in Manila, nearby provinces
Manila: A tropical depression predicted to rapidly turn into a Category 4 cyclone is bringing incessant rains to a wide swath of eastern Luzon, including the capital Manila on Monday (September 2, 2024).
School has been suspended in several provinces affected by the heavy downpour.
The weather pattern in the Western Pacific, named Tropical Storm Yagi (locally known as “Enteng”) has formed over the Philippines with explosive convection delivering heavy rains to the region, according to the local weather bureau PAGASA.
The storm’s centre was seen at 157 miles east of Subic Bay on September 2, Tuesday.
An orange alert is up over Manila, while an amber alert has been raised over Quezon Province.
A yellow warning level is up on Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Zambales and Nueva Vizcaya on Monday.
StormHQ predicts that Yagi's core is trying to organise under a formative central dense overcast (CDO) pattern. “Once it does, it will rapidly intensify,” according to StormHQ.
It is predicted to pack winds of 110 knots, with gusts up to 135 knots.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) in Hawaii is predicting that once Yagi gets around Luzon, it will make a sharp left turn and make a run towards Hainan & the coastal region of China as a Category 4 cycle lone.
Heavy rainfall was predicted by the PAGASA bulletin issued at 8:00 pm on Sunday (September 1 2024). It stated that the storm has maintained its strength, as it made landfall or passed “very close to Catanduanes (island off eastern Luzon).
At 7:21pm on Sunday, PAGASA stated that moderate to heavy rainshowers with lightning and strong winds are expected over Bulacan within the next 2 hours.
The above conditions are being experienced in Pampanga (Arayat, Santa Ana, San Fernando, Mexico, Bacolor, Porac, Santa Rita, Guagua, Floridablanca, Masantol, Macabebe, Mabalacat), Nueva Ecija(Zaragoza), Tarlac(La Paz, Capas, Bamban), Zambales(Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio, San Marcelino) and Bataan (Dinalupihan, Hermosa) which may persist within 2 hours and may affect nearby areas.
Weathermen advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with these hazards which include flash floods and landslides.
Residents are urged to monitor PAGASA on their social feeds for updates.