2 LPAs outside PAR may affect Taal Volcano ashfall direction

Two low pressure areas (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility may push the ashfall generated by the Taal Volcano into various areas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.

NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad, however, assured that the LPAs are not likely to intensify into tropical storms.

“[B]ut ‘yung low pressure area na ‘yan ay magdulot ng pag-ulan at paglakas ng hangin. At ‘yung hangin na ‘yun ay posibleng magtulak ng ashfall doon sa iba’t ibang lugar,” Jalad said in a live briefing.

(But the low pressure area will cause rains and winds. The winds may push the ashfall in various areas.)

“So iba’t ibang location ‘yung pinakita ng PAGASA kanina. Kaya nga isa din ‘yan sa pinagusapan kanina. Ano ang magiging epekto ng hangin na ito sa mga ibubuga ng Taal Volcano,” he later added.

(PAGASA showed different locations earlier. So this was one of the things we discussed. What will be the effect of the wind on the ashfall of the Volcano.)

Jalad said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) will issue an advisory based on its monitoring.

“So titingnan natin sa advisory na ibibigay sa atin… but for the purpose of forecasting, ipapakita namin ‘yung binigay na possible wind direction na pagdala nitong LPA at para sa knowledge ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

(We will check the advisory that they will give… but for the purpose of forecasting, we will show the possible wind direction of the LPA.)

The Taal Volcano was placed under Alert Level 3 on Thursday after an eruption that gave rise to a kilometer-high phreatomagmatic plume.

PHIVOLCS and experts earlier said that the ashfall would only be limited around the volcano.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News