Lando to hit Isabela as a strong typhoon, heavy rain in Luzon until next week

Published October 16, 2015 12:09pm

PAGASA on Friday noon warned that Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) will become a strong cyclone before it hits Isabela this weekend and will bring heavy rain to Luzon until next week.

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said Lando was located 585 km east of Baler, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gusts of up to 160 kph. It is expected to make landfall in Isabela either late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

Storm signals, surge warnings

At Friday noon, Storm Signal No. 2 was been raised over Aurora, Isabela, which can expect winds of up to 120 kph within the next 24 hours as Lando closes in on the region.

Meanwhile, Storm Signal No. 1 was raised over the following areas, which can expect winds of up to 60 kph within 36 hours:

Cagayan
Kalinga
Mt. Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Nueva Ecija Bulacan
Pampanga
Tarlac
Pangasinan
Rizal
Quezon incl. Polillo Island
Camarines Norte Camarines Sur
Catanduanes

Storm surges may be expected in Isabela, as well as in Cagayan and Aurora.

SEVERE WEATHER BULLETIN No. 5FOR: Typhoon “#LandoPH”TROPICAL CYCLONE: WARNINGISSUED AT 5:00 AM, 16 OCTOBER 2015...
Posted by Dost_pagasa on Thursday, October 15, 2015

Gaining strength

As of Friday noon, the US' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecast Lando to continue gaining strength in the early part of the weekend. By Saturday morning, Lando is seen to strengthen into a Category 4 typhoon with sustained winds of over 210 kph.

On the other hand, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)—which uses a similar sampling system to PAGASA—expects Lando to become a Category 3 typhoon with winds of over 180 kph within that same timeframe.

Lingering in PAR

After analyzing multiple possible forecast tracks from various international weather agencies, PAGASA said the consensus is that Lando will begin to turn northward by Monday and head toward Taiwan.

This change in course means it will linger in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and bring up to heavy rain to Luzon until next week.

"Imbes na magdire-diretso si Lando, nakikita nating may pagliko ito papuntang Taiwan bandan Lunes. Ang ibig sabihin nito ay magtatagal ito sa loob ng PAR at magdadala ng maraming ulan," warned GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz.

As early as Friday, Bicol was already experiencing some moderate rain—the initial effects of Typhoon Lando. More areas of Luzon will be affected over the weekend.

Up to occasionally heavy rains may be expected across Luzon from Sunday onward.

However, Lando's interaction with the mountains of Luzon may weaken it slightly.

"Sa Lunes dahil babagal ito, tatama ito sa Sierra Madre at hihina ito nangg kaunti," Mang Tani said.

Disasater preparations

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepared more than P128.29 million as part of preparations for incoming Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday.

In an 8:00 a.m. situation report, the NDRRMC outlined the preparations being done before Typoon Lando makes landfall early Sunday.

According to the report, the DSWD has set aside P10,406,475.28 as standby fund, 120,383 family food packs, and P117,884,769.03 worth of food and non-food items. These are available at DSWD Field Offices in the Cordillera Administrative Region and in Regions I, II, and III.

Classes and flights have also been suspended in some areas ahead of the typhoon. — With Bea Montenegro/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: lando, koppu, typhoon