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Heavy rains expected over Luzon, but Karen to exit PAR by Sunday

September 15, 2012 5:52pm

Annular Super Typhoon Karen (Sanba) as of 8am, 14Sept2012. Satellite image of super typhoon Karen (Sanba) as of 8am, 14Sept2012. It is also classified as a rare annular typhoon due to the symmetrical shape of its eye, indicative of a very strong and stable typhoon that is unaffected by external conditions. Fortunately, according to forecasts, it is expected to continue on its way north-northwest and may be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday. Weather Central

Possible heavy rain may fall over parts of Northern and Central Luzon in the next 24 hours as Annular Typhoon Karen (Sanba) moves north-northwest, state weather forecasters said Saturday afternoon.

Karen may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Saturday night or early Sunday, PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran said Saturday afternoon.

"Inaasahan nating lumabas ng PAR mamayang gabi o bukas ng madaling araw si Karen (We expect Karen to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Saturday night or early Sunday)," Duran said in an interview on dzBB radio.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Karen was estimated at 680 km northeast of Itbayat in Batanes, or 630 km east of Taiwan, as of 4 p.m.

Karen packed maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph, and is forecast to move north-northwest at 19 kph, PAGASA said.

"Occasional moderate to heavy rain will be experienced in Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region and Central Luzon, which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said.

Cagayan region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Western Visayas will be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rain.

Metro Manila will be cloudy with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest and Manila Bay will be moderate to rough.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain or thunderstorms in the evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the north to northwest will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of Luzon and Visayas, and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Mindanao will be light to moderate blowing from the south to southwest, with slight to moderate seas. — TJD, GMA News

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