Severe Weather Bulletin Number 8 - 5:00 p.m., 14 August 2012

Severe Weather Bulletin Number 8
Tropical Cyclone Warning: Tropical Storm "HELEN" (KAI-TAK)
Issued at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, 14 August 2012 

Tropical Storm "HELEN" has intensified slightly as it moves closer to Northern Luzon.  

Location of Center:   230 km East Southeast of Tuguegarao City
(as of 4:00 p.m.) 

Coordinates:     17.3°N, 124.2°E

Strength:     Maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and
                    Gustiness of up to 100 kph

Movement:     Northwest at 13 kph

Forecast Positions/Outlook: 

Wednesday afternoon - 180 km North of Tuguegarao City or
                                       70 km North of Aparri, Cagayan
Thursday afternoon - 380 km Northwest of Aparri, Cagayan or
                                    300 km West Northwest of Basco, Batanes

Areas Having Public Storm Warning Signal 

Signal No. 2 (61-100 kph winds) 

• Cagayan
• Calayan Grp. of Islands
• Babuyan Grp. of Islands
• Isabela
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Ilocos Norte
• Abra
• Batanes Grp. of Islands

Signal No. 1  (45-60 kph winds) 

• Aurora
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Mt. Province
• La Union
• Ilocos Sur

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning #2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

Tropical Storm "HELEN" will enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon and Visayas especially over the Western section.

Estimated rainfall amount is from 20 - 35 mm per hour (intense - torrential) within 500 km diameter of Tropical Storm.

Intermittent light to moderate rains (2.5 - 7.5 mm/hr) over Central and Southern Luzon becoming more frequent moderate to heavy rains (7.5 - 10.0 mm/hr) in Quezon province, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Metro Manila.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the Seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas due to Tropical Storm "HELEN" and the Southwest Monsoon.

The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 PM today.  

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PAGASA-DOST | August 14, 2012 | Article Link