PAGASA: Rolly’s westward movement lessened its impact on Metro Manila

Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni), the strongest storm recorded worldwide this year, was expected to pummel several areas in the Philippines, including the capital region of Metro Manila.

Four landfalls later, the National Capital Region was left largely unscathed by the powerful cyclone, contrary to the “heavy to intense with at times torrential rains” earlier forecast to prevail over the area when Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 was hoisted.

PAGASA weather forecaster Beni Estareja explained that that the lighter than expected impact Rolly had on Metro Manila could be attributed to its movement.

“‘Yung pinaka reason po behind it is because nag-westward po in general ‘yung movement nitong si Rolly,” he told GMA News Online.

“So instead of heading towards Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila, dito po siya mostly sa Calabarzon dumaan,” Estareja added.

Hundreds of Metro Manila residents were preemptively evacuated ahead of the expected onslaught of the typhoon, while authorities braced for Rolly’s impact.

On Sunday night, hours after Rolly first made landfall in Bato, Catanduanes, storm signals over Metro Manila were lifted by the state weather bureau.

Brutal as expected

In other areas in the Philippines, however, Rolly’s onslaught was as brutal as expected.

The Department of National Defense recorded 10 fatalities in Albay and Catanduanes as of 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

The typhoon also triggered lahar flows in Albay as 180 houses were submerged under pyroclastic material.

Over 700 families living near the Laguna de Bay were also displaced after it overflowed due to the rain brought by Rolly.

In Calabarzon, several cooperatives reported power outages as Rolly lashed the region.

PAGASA said the typhoon has weakened and was forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday morning. — DVM, GMA News