PAGASA: Mawar might affect Northern Luzon by Sunday or Monday

While it it not expected to make a landfall based on current track, Typhoon Mawar may affect parts of the country, particularly Northern Luzon by Sunday or Monday, PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said in Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras."

“Bagamat malayo ang sentro kung i-consider na 300km radius at pwede pang mas malawak. Possibly by Sunday or Monday may ilang areas ng Northern Luzon na makaranas ng epekto,” Perez said.

(While the center is wide and may still expand, some areas in Northern Luzon may be affected by Sunday or Monday.)

The report said Mawar may regain its super typhoon strength as it approaches the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

“In next 12 hours pero hindi niru-rule out na posible pa na muli itong lumakas into supertyphoon. Bakit? Malawak pa ang karagatang tatahakin nito, posibleng ‘yung mainit na sea surface temperature ay makadagdag pa sa enerhiya,"PAGASA said.

(We’re not ruling out the possibility it may strengthen into supertyphoon again. Why? Because it has yet to cross the ocean and the sea surface may affect it.)

Typhoon Mawar remains outside PAR, according to PAGASA. It weakened into a typhoon from a supertyphoon on Wednesday morning and is expected to enter PAR by Friday or Saturday.

“Monitoring po tayo. Magiging every six hours ang updating natin once na pumasok ng PAR at kung malapit na sa...or at least 100 kilometers ang layo sa landmass, magiging three hours ang updating natin para makapag-adjust both the national and the local government,” he said.

(We’re still monitoring. Our updates will be once every six hours once it enters PAR but if it is at least 100 km from the landmass, updates will be once in every three hours. That would help both the national and local governments adjust.)

“Kung magpapatuloy ang bagyo as forecast at sa periphery lang then we're looking at possibly moderate to rough sea condition,” Perez added.

(If the typhoon continues on its track, we're looking at possibly moderate to rough sea conditions.)

PAGASA further said there is a low possibility the country will experience storm surge but the tropical cyclone may enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring monsoon rains over Western Visayas and Southern Luzon.

The state weather bureau has released a general flood advisory over MIMAROPA, Zamboanga Region, Davao Region, Bangsamoro Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region in preparation for Mawar.

‘Mawar’ entry may signal start of rainy season

PAGASA weather specialist Patrick del Mundo said Typhoon Mawar may stir the southwesterly surface wind flow and spur rains in parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Del Mundo also said Storm Signal Number 3 may be raised in extreme Northern Luzon upon the entry of the tropical cyclone in PAR.

“Bagama't wala itong magiging direktang epekto sa iba pang bahagi ng bansa, hihilahin naman nito ang southwesterly surface wind flow na maaaring magpaulan sa western sections ng Luzon, at buong Visayas at Mindanao,” he said in an interview over dzBB’s Super Radyo.

(While it has no direct effect over other parts of the country, the typhoon may stir the southwesterly surface wind flow and bring rains in western section of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.)

“Maaari rin itong maghudyat ng pagsisimula nang tag-ulan sa ating bansa,” he said.

(This may signal the start of the country’s rainy season.)—Sundy Locus/LDF, GNA Integrated News